Medieval Art of Love: Objects and Subjects of Desire

Author: (English) Camille / Liuriming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The romantic love we understand today is actually an invention of the Middle Ages. Since the 12th century, poets and artists have developed numerous concepts about love and established a relationship where women are objects of desire and men are the subjects. The 150 precious and little-known artworks presented in this book are all from 13th to late 15th-century Europe. These vivid images and exquisite objects taught men and women of the time the "art of love." These textiles, dental carvings, hand-painted ornaments, jewelry boxes, jewelry, and belts do not merely reflect the ripples of medieval life but rather participate in and create the profound and mysterious moments of life. When given as gifts and tokens, they were closely tied to the owners' bodies. Through an analysis of these artworks, the authors examine the symbolic meanings and social contexts of medieval love, revealing the myths and contradictions of love as the core of social codes. They explore the secular erotic desires awakened by religious objects of desire—from gaze, conversation, touch, to kiss—ultimately leading to intoxication. Medieval love, in many aspects, appears so direct, passionate, and beyond our imagination. This book offers readers a vivid panorama of the history of medieval love.