Shrunken Treasures: Miniaturization in Books and Art

Miniature books have delighted and fascinated readers for centuries and continue to be avidly collected today.

This exhibition will highlight over 30 small-scale manuscripts and rare books from the Walters’ collection, ranging from religious texts, such as the Books of Hours and Korans, to almanacs and books of poetry. Through these books and a selection of other artworks from the Walters’ collection, the exhibition will explore the many reasons for miniaturized art, including the practical need to make something portable, the desire to concentrate supernatural powers in a small package and the ambition to make art that stretches the boundaries of artistic skill and human perception.