Possession of a book was one of the most dazzling signs of medieval power. Brandished to impress a crowd, or preserved as a treasure, a book was just as valuable as a precious jewel.
The presentation of a book to the commissioning Prince became a classic scene in medieval painting in the 12th century. The scene depicts the prince as the authority that guarantees and legitimizes the power of writing.
|
|
image selection
|
|
