The Art of Jan Van Eyck: An Optical Illusion
Jan van Eyck is perhaps the most prominent of all the Flemish Masters. This year, we are invited to Ghent to explore his optical revolution. Read More
Facing Van Eyck. The Miracle of the Detail
Come September, Brussels houses an exhibition focusing on the visually detailed techniques of Jan van Eyck and his work of art. Read More
The City of Ghent
We visit Ghent for the magnificent altarpiece painted by Hughes and Jan van Eyck in the 15thcentury, but the Flemish city promises much more in terms of medieval charm. Read More
Ghent Altarpiece
In 1432, Jan and Hubert Van Eyck completed the famous altarpiece in Ghent, Recently restored, a beautiful website invites us to get “Get Closer to Jan van Eyck on the internet”. Read more
Portrait of the Victorious Lamb
The Mystic Lamb is at the centre of the famous Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck. Recently restored it challenges us to a moral combat. Read more
Huizinga’s The Autumn of the Middle Ages
Huizinga published The Autumn of the Middle Ages in 1919. Daring, colourful and controversial, the book has continued to inspire scholars. Read More
The Ghent Altarpiece – Research and Conservation
Conservation carried out of the Gent Altarpiece since 2012 have revealed major overpainting covering the the original work of Jan and Hubert van Eyck. New book tells the story. Read more
News
Ascension of Christ
27/05/2020Luke tells us that Christ ascended into Heaven after Easter. From the 4th century, a feast came to be celebrated, and artists began to depict the Ascension Read more
Deserted Churches in Denmark 1050 -1536
14/03/2020Denmark boasts of more than 1550 medieval churches in continuous use since the 11th and 12th centuries. Less known is that a number of other churches were deserted already in the Middle Ages. Read more
Thomas Becket’s Shirt Returns to Canterbury Cathedral
05/03/2020The Tunic raditionally thought to have been worn by Saint Thomas Becket at the time of his brutal murder in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 is to return to the UK in July as part of this year’s commemorations Read more
Summer School – The Medieval Book and Quantitative Codicology
04/03/2020How do you characterise medieval manuscripts in such a way that quantitative and statistical analyses become possible? Read more
Involved in Medieval Heritage Promotion?
04/03/2020Engaged in Medieval Heritage Promotion? Working at a medieval living history center? Involved in experimental archaeology? New EU programme invites practitioners in the heritage industry to upgrade professionalism. Read more
Portrait of a Victorious Lamb
05/02/2020The Mystic Lamb is at the centre of the famous Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyck. Recently restored it challenges us to a moral combat Read more
Ploughing at Lauresham
13/01/2020How did the Carolingians work their land? At an Open-Air Museum at Lorsch in Germany, a group of people have got together to construct an ancient plough and to experiment with early medieval farming practices Read more
Tools & Tillage Now Available
13/01/2020Ground-Breaking Journal on the history of the implements of cultivation and other agricultural processes, Tools & Tillage, made Open Access Read more
New Books
Regnal Communities or Nations in the High Middle Ages
19/02/2020Medieval historians hesitate to talk about medieval nation-states. Instead, they prefer to talk about kingdoms and their corresponding royal communities or assemblies. New book reviews the questions regarding terminology. Read more
The Ghent Altarpiece – Research and Conservation
08/02/2020Conservation carried out of the Gent Altarpiece since 2012 have revealed major overpainting covering the the original work of Jan and Hubert van Eyck. New book tells the story Read more
Law in Late Medieval England
29/12/2019How did common people engage with law in Late Medieval England? New book explores the legal culture of its time and how it touched upon the lives of common men and women. Read more
Medieval Rules and Rituals
29/12/2019How was power exibited? And what role did rules, regulations and rituals play. Gert Althoff is known as one of the medieval historians, who has explored these questions in detail. New book provides translations into English of his more recent contributions. Read more
New Research
The Black Death in Ireland
29/12/2019Already contemporaries noted how the Black Death hit the Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland much harder than the Gaelic People. New research offers an explanation Read more
Undersea Volcanism may Explain Medieval Years of Darkness after AD 536
27/12/2019After AD 536 a mysterious dimming of the sun brought on global cooling, famines, and civil upheavals. Believed to have been caused by climate changes caused by volcanic forcing, new research indicate some of this was undersea volcanism Read more
Gardens in Early Medieval Iberia ca. 750–1000
12/10/2019In 1974 the historian Andrew Watson published an influential article in which he coined the phrase: The Arab Agricultural Revolution. How has this thesis fared? What do we know today about gardening in Early Medieval Iberia?
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The Ilopango Volcano in El Salavador was responsible for the events in AD 539-40.
18/09/2019The climatic disruption in the 6thcentury was forced by a series of massive volcanic eruptions. Recently the Ilopango volcano was identified as responsible for the events AD 539-40. NEW RESEARCH: Radiocarbon and geologic evidence reveal Ilopango volcano as source of the colossal ‘mystery’ eruption of 539/40 CE Robert A.Dull, John… Read more
New Exhibitions
The Early History of Copenhagen at a New Museum
11/02/2020Last week, a new attraction opened, The Museum of Copenhagen, covering the history from the ice-age hunters and gatherers and into the near future. Central is the brand new story of the earliest period in the life of the town ca. 1000 Read more
Facing Van Eyck – The Miracle of the Detail
08/02/2020Come September, Brussels houses an exhibition focusing on the visually detailed techniques of Jan van Eyck and his work of art. The exhibition is paired with a prized digital resource. Facing Van Eyck focuses on the development of the visual language of the Flemish Primitives and the influence of Byzantine… Read more
The Art of Jan Van Eyck – the Optical Illusions of Light and Darkness
04/02/2020Jan van Eyck is perhaps the most prominent of all the Flemish Masters. This year, we are invited to Ghent to explore his optical revolution Read more
Gold and Glory in Basel
06/11/2019In 1019 the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry II, took part in the consecration of the Minster in Basel. A major exhibition marks the anniversary Read more