Description
A vibrantly illustrated, inter-disciplinary volume that explores how art reflected and reinforced the complex ethical discussions that developed from the widespread role of money in the Middle Ages
“Although the book serves as the catalogue record of an important exhibition, focused on works of art, what it provides is more than art history. Wolfthal’s larger theme is the fraught contest between money’s increasing presence and importance in urban economies, poised against medieval Church prohibitions against usury and avarice. As such, the book will be of lasting relevance for historians of all stripes, especially scholars of religion, economy and urbanism.”—Larry Silver, The Burlington Magazine
“This book brings a wealth of contextual understanding to complement the objects and ideas in the exhibition itself”—Elizabeth Cleland, Historians of Netherlandish Art Reviews
The rise of the monetary economy transformed every aspect of medieval Europe, including its values and culture. Medieval Money is a timely look at the economic revolution that took place in the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. It traces the origins of global money, and surveys economic history, focusing on the environment, the plague, Jews and institutions. The iconography, minting and foreign exchange of coins are examined, and the choice that Christians faced is investigated: should they save their money or their soul?
The authors explore images of avarice, the greedy punished in hell, and immoral ways to earn and spend money, and analyse representations of charity and voluntary poverty. Final chapters examine the material culture of the monetary economy—from an illuminated oath for minters to purses and lockboxes—and images of medieval money management.
Author biographies
Diane Wolfthal is David and Caroline Minter Chair Emerita in the Humanities and professor emerita of Art History, Rice University, Houston, Texas
Steven A. Epstein is professor emeritus, department of history at the University of Kansas
David Yoon is Mark Salton Associate Curator of Medieval, Renaissance and Early European Numismatics, American Numismatic Society, New York
Deirdre Jackson is assistant curator of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts, the Morgan Library, New York
Table of Contents
- Director’s Foreword by Colin B. Bailey
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction: The Origins and Uses of Money by Deirdre Jackson
- The European Economy, 1200-1500 by Steven A. Epstein
- Coinage and Medieval Monetary Systems by David Yoon
- Your Money or Your Eternal Life?
- Will Money Damn Your Soul?
- Can Money Save Your Soul?
- Merchants and the Material Culture of Money
- Money Management
- Bibliography
- Index of Manuscripts
- General Index
- Picture Credits
