In this book the beauty and meaning of Byzantine art and its aesthetics are for the first time made accessible through the original sources. More than 150 medieval texts are translated from nine medieval languages into English, with commentaries from over seventy leading scholars. These include theories of art, discussions of patronage and understandings of iconography, practical recipes for artistic supplies, expressions of devotion, and descriptions of cities. The volume reveals the cultural plurality and the interconnectivity of medieval Europe and the Mediterranean from the late eleventh to the early fourteenth centuries. The first part uncovers salient aspects of Byzantine artistic production and its aesthetic reception, while the second puts a spotlight on particular ways of expressing admiration and of interpreting of the visual.

‘… an impressive amount of work for any single scholar, even more so for someone in their early career, and therefore Spingou deserves to be praised. Scholars and students active in many fields have gained a useful sourcebook both to prepare classes and gather ideas in order to push forward the research on medieval visual culture.’

Ugo Mondini Source: Bryn Mawr Classical Review