Bucolic imagery—of shepherds with flocks in idyllic surroundings—has barely been studied in Byzantine art history. These images elude our usual analytical categories of imperial, sacred, and secular art, and challenge our assumptions about visual narrative. This book demonstrates that a “bucolic mode” existed in Byzantium in diverse media, such as textiles, sculpture, mosaics, silver, and manuscripts. Through a close reading of a select group of images, this book argues that bucolic themes were deployed to reflect concerns about the salvific effects of sound, the vagaries of the weather, and the contingency of imperial rule at different moments in the Byzantine era.
Loading metrics...
* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.
Usage data cannot currently be displayed.
This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.
Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this book is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.