
Living by the Rule
Contemporary Art and the Medieval Monastery
Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd
Published on 5. May 2026
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-1-84822-751-4 (ISBN)
Description
This unique and bold publication vividly stages an encounter between medieval and contemporary art with many unexpected resonances sounding between recent works and much earlier objects and texts.
Taking as their focus the Rule of St Benedict, a book written in the sixth century which provided monks with a framework for communal living, Jessica Barker and Ed Krcma invite readers to consider assumptions about contemporary life and how these beliefs might be unsettled by historical models, specifically medieval monastic life. Exploration of the rich material culture of religious communities of the Middle Ages throws up unexpected connections with contemporary art, and a reciprocity emerges, shifting our perspectives on both medieval and contemporary ways of life. Including outstanding artworks such as the Arundel and Gorleston Psalters, and works in a variety of media by celebrated contemporary artists, including Tacita Dean and Andrea Buettner, Living by the Rule makes a compelling case for looking beyond the chronological tracing of art history.
Taking as their focus the Rule of St Benedict, a book written in the sixth century which provided monks with a framework for communal living, Jessica Barker and Ed Krcma invite readers to consider assumptions about contemporary life and how these beliefs might be unsettled by historical models, specifically medieval monastic life. Exploration of the rich material culture of religious communities of the Middle Ages throws up unexpected connections with contemporary art, and a reciprocity emerges, shifting our perspectives on both medieval and contemporary ways of life. Including outstanding artworks such as the Arundel and Gorleston Psalters, and works in a variety of media by celebrated contemporary artists, including Tacita Dean and Andrea Buettner, Living by the Rule makes a compelling case for looking beyond the chronological tracing of art history.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Includes 100 colour illustrations; 100 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 266 mm
Width: 227 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
1000 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84822-751-4 (9781848227514)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Jessica Barker is Senior Lecturer in Medieval Art History at The Courtauld. Ed Krcma is Associate Professor of Art History at the University of East Anglia. Andrea Buettner is a contemporary artist and has explored a range of mediums including printmaking, drawing and video. She won the Max Mara Art Prize for Women in 2009. Aden Kumler is Professor of Art History at the University of Basel. Elizabeth Price is a contemporary artist working primarily in digital moving image. She won the Turner Prize in 2012.
Content
Introduction; Works in Focus; 1: Time and Measure; Works in Focus; 2: Autonomy and Dependence; Works in Focus; 3: Authority and Obedience; Works in Focus; 4: The Office; Works in Focus; Andrea Buettner and Elizabeth Price: An Exchange; Postscript, Aden Kumler; Select Bibliography; Acknowledgements; Picture Credits; Index