Activity: Host visitor types › Hosting an academic visitor
Description
“Animal Magnetism: Beasts of the Medieval World": Animals were integral to almost every aspect of medieval life, so it is not surprising to find a vast array of creatures racing, tumbling, and creeping through works of art of the period. Unicorns, lions, elephants, griffins, and other beasts both factual and fantastic were seen not only as physical beings, but also as a rich source for metaphors and allegories. They inhabited manuscripts, ivories, tapestries, and metalwork created across the medieval world, west and east. Moreover, the legacy of the understanding of animals in the Middle Ages continues to influence and inspire contemporary artists today.