Living by the Book: Monks, Nuns and Their Manuscripts

Today, medieval books are treated as works of art, untouchable treasures to be locked away in cabinets. Yet many were intended for regular use as vital components of everyday life for monks and nuns, and their way of life was, in turn, crucial for the creation and preservation of manuscripts. In the vibrant culture of the monastic community, new and innovative devotional texts and images were created, while secular knowledge, including music, history, science, grammar and classical literature, was also actively enjoyed and preserved. This exhibition, of approximately 20 books, will explore the life of the monastery as told through the variety of books that were created, used, cherished, glossed, worn down and palimpsested by those who lived there over the centuries.