Anglo-Saxon Art: A New History - Tapa blanda

"Webster elegantly establishes the nexus of trade routes and influences to which Anglo-Saxon art owes so much of its sophistication and development; she carefully unfolds objects' apparently abstract decorative patterns to draw out their wealth of meaning and allusion; and she explores the visual imagery in partnership with Anglo-Saxon England's rich literary heritage in order to recreate, as far as possible, something of the world view of the people by and for whom these distinctive works were made. In all this, she combines insight and scholarly rigour with accessibility, in language that is both careful and clear. ... A final word should be said about the excellent number and quality of the images. Seeing them alongside Webster's illuminating text makes it difficult to imagine how anybody could mistake this long and important period of English history for a 'dark age' ever again". - Donald Lee, The Art Newspaper

"A lively and engaging distillation of a leading scholar's expertise which is likely - and deserves - to become a standard introduction for students, a handy point of reference for academics, and a must for anyone interested in the subject". -Editor's Choice, British Archaeology

"There are any number of wondrous trappings and adornments to be seen in this gloriously-illustrated book, products of what was overwhelmingly an aesthetic of ornamentation" --TheScotsman.com

"A fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable introduction; as with all good reads it invites us to further explorations, museum visits and detailed examination of the many pieces of arts presented". -MedievalHistories.com

"For anyone that collects or simply has an interest in Anglo-Saxon art and artefacts then this book is a must buy". --The Searcher

For anyone that collects or simply has an interest in Anglo-Saxon art and artifacts then this book is a must buy . [..] I have no hesitation in recommending it to all readers of The Searcher. --Peter D. Spencer - The Searcher

For anyone that collects or simply has an interest in Anglo-Saxon art and artifacts then this book is a must buy . [..] I have no hesitation in recommending it to all readers of The Searcher. --Peter D. Spencer - The Searcher

The seven centuries of the Anglo-Saxon period in England, roughly AD 400–1100, were a time of extraordinary and profound transformation in almost every aspect of its culture, culminating in a dramatic shift from a barbarian society to a recognizably medieval civilization. This book traces the changing nature of that art, the different roles it played in Anglo-Saxon culture, and the various ways it both reflected and influenced the changing context in which it was created. From its first manifestations in the metalwork and ceramics of the early settlers, Anglo-Saxon art displays certain inbuilt and highly distinctive stylistic and iconographic features. Despite the many new influences which were regularly absorbed and adapted by Anglo-Saxon artists and craftsmen, these characteristics continued to resonate through the centuries in the great manuscripts, ivories, metalwork and sculpture of this inventive and creative culture. This book highlights the character, leitmotifs and underlying continuities of Anglo-Saxon art, whilst also placing it firmly in its wider cultural and political context.