Creatures in Medieval and Early Modern Books: Forms, Functions, and Artistic Fantasy

Whether scary or serene, malicious or benevolent, creatures were often represented on the pages of medieval and early modern books. In this introductory lecture to the exhibition, Tales of Imaginary Creatures in Medieval and Renaissance Rare Books and Manuscripts, we explore the forms and functions of these fantastic beings, which appear not only in the margins, but also as the focus of religious and secular books alike. Relevant themes include the relationship (or lack thereof) between text and image and the role of artistic imagination in book decoration.

Christopher Platts is an Assistant Professor of Art History and University Research Council Scholar at the University of Cincinnati. His work focuses on medieval and early modern European art, especially Italian Renaissance painting and manuscript illumination. He is also active as a curator, co-organizing exhibitions at university museums and special collection libraries. His most recent exhibition, in spring 2024, was “Rediscovering Catherina van Hemessen’s “Scourging of Christ”: Women Artists, Patrons, and Rulers in Renaissance Europe” at the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP Library.

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