Medieval History
From the skin-tight boots sported by dandies in the early 19th century to the brothel-creepers currently making a come-back on the streets of trendy East London, footwear has long played a powerful role in the human imagination as a signifier of rank and status. On the eve of London Fashion Week, Cambridge University historian Dr Ulinka Rublack, a specialist in the cultural history of early modern Europe, will give a public talk in London tomorrow on the topic of luxury items ? an exploration of the past through the life of things.
In investigating the history of the intricate interplay between people and their belongings, she will focus on leather and, in particular, on shoes and their potency as objects of desire in the 16th century. She will argue that in seeking to understand the Renaissance as a cultural movement we should not confine our gaze to the development of the fine arts ? such as painting and sculpture ? but should also explore the role of the decorative arts and crafts ? such as fashion and textiles ? with an open mind.
Dr Rublack challenges the unspoken hierarchy that frames our picture of the past: a ranking system that puts painting on a pedestal and confines many of the objects made to be worn and handled to the side-lines. She argues that it is only by looking at the ways in which objects were crafted and re-crafted that we get closer to the mind-set of those who lived during a period we think of as pivotal in ushering in a new age. ?Design came first, whether bags or belts, hats or head-dresses, and the paintings portraying these items followed,? she said.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
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Medieval History
Shoes from the Middle Ages, Early Modern Period, topic of lecture in London
From the skin-tight boots sported by dandies in the early 19th century to the brothel-creepers currently making a come-back on the streets of trendy East London, footwear has long played a powerful role in the human imagination as a signifier of rank and status. On the eve of London Fashion Week, Cambridge University historian Dr Ulinka Rublack, a specialist in the cultural history of early modern Europe, will give a public talk in London tomorrow on the topic of luxury items ? an exploration of the past through the life of things.
In investigating the history of the intricate interplay between people and their belongings, she will focus on leather and, in particular, on shoes and their potency as objects of desire in the 16th century. She will argue that in seeking to understand the Renaissance as a cultural movement we should not confine our gaze to the development of the fine arts ? such as painting and sculpture ? but should also explore the role of the decorative arts and crafts ? such as fashion and textiles ? with an open mind.
Dr Rublack challenges the unspoken hierarchy that frames our picture of the past: a ranking system that puts painting on a pedestal and confines many of the objects made to be worn and handled to the side-lines. She argues that it is only by looking at the ways in which objects were crafted and re-crafted that we get closer to the mind-set of those who lived during a period we think of as pivotal in ushering in a new age. ?Design came first, whether bags or belts, hats or head-dresses, and the paintings portraying these items followed,? she said.
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
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A recent discovery in an Austrian castle has revealed that bras existed back in the 15th century. It is among dozens of new textile artifacts that seem to have been preserved by a lucky accident, which will give historians a much better understanding...
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- Four Arts Spotlights Rare English Medieval Alabasters In First Showing In U.s.
To fully understand the pale, carved representations of Christian stories populating The Society of the Four Arts? galleries, you have to step back in time about 600 years. In those days, they adorned church altars or were the focal points of shrines...
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Through painstaking research, historically accurate technical detail and participation in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Vancouver artist Sharow Burrows seeks the visionary feminine side of the Middle Ages. In a cheerfully cluttered home studio...
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I often find myself trying to explain the system of Budapest's major art museums to foreigners. Although it is a clear system, it can still be confusing at times. For example, you can find important medieval artworks in all major museums of the capital....