Lines of thought describes the role of visual representations of invisible structures (definition, elements, cognition processes) in medieval texts in the Artes Faculty. By exploring three case... Show moreLines of thought describes the role of visual representations of invisible structures (definition, elements, cognition processes) in medieval texts in the Artes Faculty. By exploring three case studies in the field of logic, natural philosophy and medicine/psychology, the author investigated how medieval diagrams in learned texts were used and valued. She concentrated on scholarly activity in Paris, Oxford and Prague, 1200-1500. Show less
It has long been assumed that the position of nobility in the Low Countries weakened in the later Middle Ages. Though the narrative of a crisis of the late medieval nobility is no longer taken for... Show moreIt has long been assumed that the position of nobility in the Low Countries weakened in the later Middle Ages. Though the narrative of a crisis of the late medieval nobility is no longer taken for granted, it still exerts influence on historiography. This book sketches the contours of the noble population in the county of Zeeland between 1400 and 1550, thereby answering the central question of how the political and socio-economic position of the noblemen in society actually evolved in a period characterised by the processes of state formation, urbanisation and commercialisation. The question is approached from two perspectives: that of the nobility as a group and that of the individual nobleman and his family. On the one hand, it is traced how changes in the political and socio-economic circumstances affected the power, wealth and status of the nobility. On the other, the strategies of the nobles to consolidate their estate by adapting to the changing political and economic field are analysed. The specific political history and social institutions of Zeeland were of great influence on the structure of the noble population, the social reproduction strategies of the nobles, and the appreciation of nobility. The late medieval nobility in Zeeland should not be understood as a strong co-operative group, but rather as a group of individuals with the same legal status but different political and socio-economic profiles. They belonged to several overlapping social networks. As such the nobility retained its stability and continuity, although the identity and lifestyle that nobles shared became less connected to chivalry and more related to loyal state service in the sixteenth century. Show less
How did contemporaries bring the presence of art in late medieval Netherlandish charterhouses in harmony with the austere way of living and the inward spirituality of the carthusians? That is the... Show moreHow did contemporaries bring the presence of art in late medieval Netherlandish charterhouses in harmony with the austere way of living and the inward spirituality of the carthusians? That is the central question of this thesis. In the twelfth century this matter was already raised by Bernard of Clairvaux. Significantly, the monastic rule of the carthusians shows an aversion to outward finery and distracting images. Objects that are made of precious materials like gold and precious stones seem incompatible with the simplicity and austerity of the carthusians. Such objects reflect the outward and the physical, while the carthusians are focused on the inward and the spiritual to stimulate their receptivity for an inner union with Christ. However, in the late Middle Ages such art objects found their way into the carthusian monasteries in the Low Countries. This paradox is analysed by means of a discussion of seven exemplary surviving works of art. These case studies demonstrate that the presence of paintings was not necessarily experienced as distracting by the carthusians. The paintings were situated in the private areas of Netherlandish carthusian monasteries where they fulfilled a function which was deeply rooted in the strict devotional practice of the carthusians. Show less
