Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, decoding the mysteries of the Bible and the Gospels was an alluring and profitable enterprise for European artists and patrons.
The demand for devotional material required innovation by the artists – to create new and varied art in a changing artistic landscape. According to legend, Luke the Evangelist painted a portrait of the Virgin Mary from life, which led medieval painters to envisage themselves as anointed illustrators of the divine.
Presenting fascinating illuminations on vellum, woodcuts and ‘intaglio’ prints, this display spans the exuberant artistic worlds of Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany.