Views of Transition: Liturgy and Illumination in Mediaeval Spain

The Academic Registrar of the Courtauld Institute, Dr Rose Walker, has, in conjunction with her publishers written a wonderfully produced analysis of change in medieval Spanish culture and society. The chosen examples of change are in the areas of liturgy and illumination. The eleventh century Spanish Church was required to change from the Mozarabic, or “Old Spanish liturgy” to the Roman Liturgy. Her study, through the examination of contemporary liturgical manuscripts, shows how such a transformation was achieved. There are, in addition to an “Introduction: Discourses of Change and Stasis”, two parts. The first “The Monastic office” has three chapters:...