Books That Inspire 2003
 
The Tres Riches Heures of Jean
Duke of Berry


Growing up in the age of television, I saw black and white images turn to color, and I see today palm-sized telephones and computers providing visual links to world events. This inundation of images makes me appreciate more the illustrations of the illuminated manuscript I selected. Carefully drawn details of life in the calendar pages reveal to us the clothing, settings and way of life of noble classes and working peasants. We see castles and huts, beehives and sheepfolds, and seasonal scenes of hunting. Instead of fleeting images on a flickering screen, we may study and savor each brush stroke of the images in this jewel of a book.
contributor_image
Susan Booker
Assistant Professor
Fine & Applied Arts Librarian
University Libraries