Middle Ages

The Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection is rich in medieval manuscripts and you can see here illuminated books both religious and secular: a book of Psalms made for an early 13th century English bishop, an allegorical love poem composed in France in the mid 13th century, and a book of church law that graphically illustrates a sensitive marital problem.

The Middle Ages saw the emergence of the altarpiece as a major European art form: read here about works by the Italian painters Simone Martini and Luca di Tommè.

And enjoy art from great Oriental cultures: 7th century Japan, 13th century Korea and Ming Dynasty China.