A Royal Wedding Feast; An Unsuitably Dressed GuestCast into Darkness, 1469. Follower of Hans Schilling (German, active 1459 – 1467) and from the Workshop ofDiebold Lauber (German, active 1427 – 1467).The J. PaulGetty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 9, fol. 88v
Getty Museum presents ‘Chivalry in the Middle Ages’ ‘Chivalry in the Middle Ages’, on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum from July 8 to November 30, 2014, demonstrates how manuscripts of a variety of genres, ranging from romances to hunting treatises, played a central role in promoting the tenets of chivalry.]]>
Source: J. Paul Getty Museum
Damsels in distress, knights inshining armor, and tales of love and adventure– these notions of chivalry have shaped popularunderstanding of the Middle Ages. Artworkfrom the period reveals that chivalry, firstdeveloped as a model code of conduct for themedieval knighthood, eventually permeatedalmost every aspect of aristocratic culture.
Telling of heroes’ exploits in life and love, romances were among the most cherished illuminated texts of the Middle Ages. Their popularity was in large part due to the captivating images of lovers exchanging amorous letters, arranging furtive trysts, and strolling arm in arm on wealthy estates. These tales typically focused on a young knight’s adventurous pursuit of an aristocratic woman who was already married or promised to a high-ranking nobleman. The knight would perform brave and honorable deeds to become worthy of his lady’s esteem, and – because the nature of the affection was often secret – their devotion would stand apart from worldly concerns.
One of the Getty’s newest manuscript acquisitions, Lieven van Lathem’s «Romance of Gillion de Trazegnies» (after 1464), demonstrates the rewards of chivalrous behavior. The scene on view is of the marriage between knight Gillion de Trazegnies and his bride, Marie d’Ostrevant. The marriage was a reward to Gillion by Marie’s father, the Count of Hainaut, for the young knight’s loyalty and virtue. However, in a trope typical of romances, nefarious villains conspire to separate the couple. At one point, Gillion is tricked into thinking that Marie is dead and marries another woman.
«Chivalry in the Middle Ages» is on view July 8-November 30, 2014 at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Getty Center. Because these works on paper are light sensitive, this exhibition is presented in two installations (July 8-September 21, 2014 and September 23-November 30, 2014), providing Museum visitors an opportunity to see two different sets of images.
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«In the Beginning Was the Word: Medieval Gospel Illumination» – Getty Museum (exhibition, 2011)
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