Illuminating the Law: Legal Manuscripts in Cambridge Collections (Studies in Medieval and Early Renaissance Art History)

Illuminated legal texts rank high among the most splendidly decorated medieval manuscripts. Their historical and artistic significance has largely escaped even specialists in art and legal history. The long-recognized discrepancy between the importance of the material and its relative inaccessibility, as well as the rich Cambridge collections, provided the incentive for an exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum. With the intention to bring this splendid material to the attention and the understanding of a wider audience, this catalogue offers introductory essays on the making and use of medieval legal manuscripts, detailed descriptions and analysis of representative examples, and rich illustrative material, aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking.