Mosaics in the Medieval World: From Late Antiquity to the Fifteenth Century

by Liz James

Overview

In this book, Liz James offers a comprehensive history of wall mosaics produced in the European and Islamic middle ages. Taking into account a wide range of issues, including style and iconography, technique and material, and function and patronage, she examines mosaics within their historical context. She asks why the mosaic was such a popular medium and considers how mosaics work as historical 'documents' that tell us about attitudes and beliefs in the medieval world. The book is divided into two part. Part I explores the technical aspects of mosaics, including glass production, labour and materials, and costs. In Part II, James provides a chronological history of mosaics, charting the low and high points of mosaic art up until its abrupt end in the late middle ages. Written in a clear and engaging style, her book will serve as an essential resource for scholars and students of medieval mosaics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107011984
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/05/2017
Pages:	650
Product dimensions:	8.78(w) x 11.34(h) x 1.26(d)

About the Author

Liz James is a Byzantine art historian with an interest in mosaics. Her ambition is to see at first-hand all the mosaics discussed in this book, and she is approximately three-quarters of the way there. She is Professor of Art History at the University of Sussex, where she teaches courses on Byzantine art.

Table of Contents

Part I. Making Wall Mosaics: Introduction to Part I; 1. Making glass tesserae; 2. Making mosaics; 3. The business of mosaics; 4. The value of mosaics; Part II. Mosaics by Century: Introduction to Part II; 5. In the beginning: wall mosaics in the fourth century; 6. Types or prototypes? Mosaics in the fifth century; 7. Emperors, kings, popes and bishops: mosaics in the sixth century; 8. New beginnings? Islam, Byzantium and Rome: mosaics in the seventh and eighth centuries; 9. Medium and message: ninth- and tenth-century mosaics; 10. A universal language? Eleventh-century mosaics; 11. Incorrigibly plural: mosaics in the twelfth century; 12. Men and mosaics: the thirteenth century; 13. Boom and bust: mosaics in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries; Conclusion; Appendix of sites; Bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

'This fabulous book is a great achievement. The 166 splendid color illustrations (many previously unpublished) alone would make the volume of great value, but James (Univ. of Sussex, UK) also provides a rich scholarly apparatus of footnotes and bibliography and a fine list of all extant mosaics, arranged by period and country. Written with panache, the book wears its erudition lightly and is accessible to a wide readership. Essential.' L. Nees, Choice

'This stunning new book will change the way you look at medieval mosaics … The attention to detail and to making this book useable, with indices, lists of sites and bespoke maps, ensure that this will be a much-consulted book for anyone working on the late antique, early medieval and medieval built environment.' Caroline Goodson, Medieval Archaeology

From the Publisher