Overview

Crown and Veil offers a broad introduction to the history and visual culture of female monasticism in the Middle Ages, from the earliest communities of Late Antiquity to the Reformation. Scholars from numerous disciplines offer a wide range of perspectives not to be found in any other single book on the subject, placing the art, architecture, literature, liturgy, religious practices, and economic foundations of these communities within a wide historical and cultural context. Long considered marginal to mainstream history, nuns and canonesses in fact had a profound influence on medieval culture. Revered and admired as models of piety, they commanded considerable prestige and exercised a significant degree of political power. Whether acting as producers or patrons of art, nuns were widely celebrated for their imaginative accomplishments. Focusing on the visual culture of female monastic communities in the German Empire, Frankish Gaul, Langobard Italy, and Anglo-Saxon England, this volume underscores the richness of largely unfamiliar material and its role in shaping distinctive forms of religious life.

Full Product Details

Author:   Jeffrey Hamburger (Professor, Harvard University) ,  Susan Marti ,  Dietlinde Hamburger ,  Caroline Walker Bynum
Publisher:   Columbia University Press
Imprint:   Columbia University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.60cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.595kg
ISBN:  

9780231139809

ISBN 10:   0231139802
Pages:   344
Publication Date:   20 May 2008
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.
Language:   English

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations Foreword, by Caroline Walker Bynum Acknowledgments Introduction: Histories of Female Monasticism, by Jeffrey F. Hamburger 1. Early Monasteries and Foundations (500-1200): An Introduction, by Jan Gerchow with Katrinette BodarwZ, Susan Marti, and Hedwig Rsckelein 2. The Time of the Orders, 1200-1500: An Introduction, by Jeffrey F. Hamburger, Petra Marx, and Susan Marti 3. Between This World and the Next: The Art of Religious Women in the Middle Ages, by Jeffrey F. Hamburger and Robert Suckale 4. Church and Cloister: The Architecture of Female Monasticism in the Middle Ages, by Carola JSggi and Uwe Lobbedey 5. Nuns' Work, Caretaker Institutions, and Women's Movements : Some Thoughts About a Modern Historiography of Medieval Monasticism, by Jan Gerchow and Susan Marti 6. The Visionary Texts and Visual Worlds of Religious Women, by Barbara Newman 7. Patterns of Female Piety in the Later Middle Ages, by Caroline Walker Bynum 8. Time and Space: Liturgy and Rite in Female Monasteries of the Middle Ages, by Gisela Muschiol 9. Founders, Donors, and Saints: Patrons of Nuns' Convents, by Hedwig Rsckelein 10. Pastoral Care in Female Monasteries: Sacramental Services, Spiritual Edification, Ethical Discipline, by Klaus Schreiner 11. Household and Prayer: Medieval Convents as Economic Entities, by Werner Rssener 12. Wanderers Between Worlds: Visitors, Letters, Wills, and Gifts as Means of Communication in Exchanges Between Cloister and the World, by Gabriela Signori Works Cited Picture Credits

Reviews

I recommend [ Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion -- Anke Bernau Times Higher Education Supplement 9/11/08 The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended. Choice 12/1/08 A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism. Bulletin Codicologique 2008 With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women. H-Net Reviews 5/1/09 With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point. -- Karen Stoeber H-German 05/01/09 A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking. -- Laura Swan Magistra Vol. 15, #1 I recommend [ Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion -- Anke Bernau, Times Higher Education Supplement The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended. -- Choice A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism. -- Bulletin Codicologique With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women. -- H-Net Reviews With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point. -- Karen Stoeber, H-German A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking. -- Laura Swan Magistra Well-written and wonderfully illustrated... -- Greg Peters Sixteenth Century Journal Winter 2009 A welcome contribution. -- Ephrem Hollermann American Benedictine Review 3/1/10 With its broad chronological, geographical and thematic approach Crown and Veil provides a good and, overall, well-balanced introduction to a complex field of medieval religious history Journal of Ecclesiastical History Vol. 61 3, July 2010

I recommend [ Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion -- Anke Bernau, Times Higher Education Supplement The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended. -- Choice A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism. -- Bulletin Codicologique With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women. -- H-Net Reviews With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point. -- Karen Stoeber, H-German A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking. -- Laura Swan, Magistra I recommend [ Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion -- Anke Bernau, Times Higher Education Supplement The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended. -- Choice A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism. -- Bulletin Codicologique With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women. -- H-Net Reviews With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point. -- Karen Stoeber, H-German A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking. -- Laura Swan, Magistra Well-written and wonderfully illustrated... -- Greg Peters, Sixteenth Century Journal A welcome contribution. -- Ephrem Hollermann, American Benedictine Review

I recommend [Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion -- Anke Bernau Times Higher Education Supplement The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended. Choice A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism. Bulletin Codicologique With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women. H-Net Reviews With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point. -- Karen Stoeber H-German A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking. -- Laura Swan Magistra ""I recommend [ Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion"" -- Anke Bernau, Times Higher Education Supplement ""The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended."" -- Choice ""A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism."" -- Bulletin Codicologique ""With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women."" -- H-Net Reviews ""With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point."" -- Karen Stoeber, H-German ""A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking."" -- Laura Swan Magistra Well-written and wonderfully illustrated... -- Greg Peters Sixteenth Century Journal A welcome contribution. -- Ephrem Hollermann American Benedictine Review With its broad chronological, geographical and thematic approach Crown and Veil provides a good and, overall, well-balanced introduction to a complex field of medieval religious history Journal of Ecclesiastical History ...a valuable resource... -- Anna Harrison Religious Studies Review

I recommend [Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion -- Anke Bernau * Times Higher Education Supplement * The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended. * Choice * A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism. * Bulletin Codicologique * With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women. * H-Net Reviews * With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point. -- Karen Stoeber * H-German * A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking. -- Laura Swan * Magistra * I recommend [ Crown and Veil] to all readers interested in the history of art, women and religion -- Anke Bernau, Times Higher Education Supplement The first broad survey of the history of female monasticism and its effect on medieval culture... Recommended. -- Choice A most readable and enlightening volume on the main issues of female monasticism. -- Bulletin Codicologique With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point for anyone with an interest in female spirituality and the religious lives of medieval women. -- H-Net Reviews With its broad chronological, thematic, and geographical coverage and its scholarly but accessible contributions, this collection provides an ideal starting point. -- Karen Stoeber, H-German A stimulating conversation that will hopefully... instigate further research and thought... The material covered is breathtaking. -- Laura Swan * Magistra * Well-written and wonderfully illustrated.... -- Greg Peters * Sixteenth Century Journal * A welcome contribution. -- Ephrem Hollermann * American Benedictine Review * With its broad chronological, geographical and thematic approach Crown and Veil provides a good and, overall, well-balanced introduction to a complex field of medieval religious history * Journal of Ecclesiastical History * ...a valuable resource... -- Anna Harrison * Religious Studies Review *

Author Information

Jeffrey F. Hamburger is the Kuno Franke Professor of German Art and Culture in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University. A scholar of medieval monasticism, mysticism, and manuscript illumination, he is a fellow of the Medieval Academy, and his books have received numerous awards, including the Jacques Barzun Prize in Cultural History, the Morey Prize of the College of Art Association, and the Roland Bainton Prize in Art and Music. Susan Marti is a scholar of the art of female monasticism and manuscript illumination and a curator for exhibitions on the Middle Ages. She has published research on medieval art in German-speaking countries and has collaborated on several important exhibitions in Germany, Switzerland, and France.

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