Medieval Life: European Manuscripts in Philadelphia Collections
Explore daily life in medieval Europe through manuscripts from the collections of the Free Library of Philadelphia and 14 other nearby institutions. Varied books and objects from the 12th through 16th centuries illuminate how people practiced religion, interacted with their governments, worked, built families, and experienced the natural environment. This exhibition considers how medieval Europeans thought about their lives and the world around them, and how their concerns relate to our own in the 21st-century.
The William B. Dietrich Gallery, Rare Book Department
Fall 2020
Images & Objects
Click below to see images and learn more about the objects featured in the Medieval Life Exhibition
Medieval Life Exhibition Photos
Click above to see photos of the exhibition Medieval Life.
Click above to learn more about select objects featured in the exhibition Medieval Life.
Extras
Click below to see promotional materials from the Medieval Life Exhibition
Medieval Life
The original poster for the exhibition.
Programming
Click below to see online programs related to the Medieval Life Exhibition
Join curator Dot Porter and vocalist and instrumentalist Adam Ward as they explore the sounds and contexts of music from the Medieval period. This is a "Medieval Life" virtual program.
Curator Dot Porter, professors Sierra Lomuto (Rowan University) and Nahir Otaño Gracia (University of New Mexico) and the In The Middle bloggers (Mary Kate Hurley, Jonathan Hsy, Karl Steel and Cord Whitaker), discuss how the Middle Ages can be understood and interpreted today. This is a "Medieval Life" virtual program.
Curator Dot Porter and Dr. Kristine Larsen of the Geological Sciences Department of Central Connecticut State University discuss astrolabes! You'll learn how to use an astrolabe of your very own. This is a "Medieval Life" virtual program.
Curator Dot Porter, chef Ange Branca, and Professor Marissa Nicosia of Penn State Abington discuss the impact of cooking on the global economy of the Middle Ages. This is a "Medieval Life" virtual program.
Join curator Dot Porter and Lori Jones of the University of Ottawa as they discuss the European plagues of the Middle Ages. This is a "Medieval Life" virtual program.
An introduction to the Medieval Life exhibition in the Rare Book Department.
