The Art of the Picts: Sculpture and Metalwork in Early Medieval Scotland [Hardcover]

George Henderson (Author), Isabel Henderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 2004

“A major study of the art of the Picts.” —Library Journal

Drawing on their extensive research and expertise, renowned historians George and Isabel Henderson illuminate one of the great enigmas of medieval art: the unique metalwork and sculpture of the Picts. Tribal Celtic-speaking warriors and farmers in what is now Scotland, the Picts were one of the major peoples of early medieval Britain, but their culture and their beautiful art have puzzled historians for centuries.

George and Isabel Henderson’s acute analysis reveals an art form that both interacted with the currents of “Insular” art and was produced by a sophisticated society capable of sustaining large-scale art programs. The illustrations include specially commissioned drawings that help one understand the mysterious symbols found in the art.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Henderson is Emeritus Professor of Medieval Art at the University of Cambridge.

Isabel Henderson is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading authorities on the Picts and their culture.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (January 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500238073
• ISBN-13: 978-0500238073
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,278,544 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A landmark study of the Picts., June 20, 2004

By 

Richard D. Price "rprice" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art of the Picts: Sculpture and Metalwork in Early Medieval Scotland (Hardcover)

HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. A fine presentation of Pictish studies from an art-history perspective. It includes a superb collection of 300 b/w photographs of Pictish jewelry and sculpture. Extensively footnoted and thoughtfully argued, it's a great resource. Some crucial monuments are depicted without the glass enclosures that now obstruct them. It's a great asset to have these clear images.

If you're new to Pictish studies, many of the references and concepts may not be meaningful -- but the photos alone are worth the cost of the book.

Quibbles: (1) The photographs aren't individually credited, (2) None of the photos are in color, and (3) The stated locations of some monuments don't identify their current placements. (I'm writing this within a few months of publication, so it's not that they've moved since then.)

But don't pass up this book for these paltry reasons. I plan to lose myself in it for quite some time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars comprehensive but text not accessible for general reader, November 4, 2006

By 

TJT "halfscot" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art of the Picts: Sculpture and Metalwork in Early Medieval Scotland (Hardcover)

The book is well illustrated, yet the text is constantly cross referring to other items, some of which are in the book, pages away, and some of which are not in the book at all. This can be frustrating when you would like to do the comparisons to understand the point the author is making. Also, please be forewarned that this is written from an art history perspective, not so much from an historical or archaeological perspective. To me, the book would have benefitted from text which blended these disciplines a little better. Perhaps the authors presupposed that readers would already be familiar with the other disciplines, and therefore just concentrated on art history. Still, if you love Pictish art, this book is probably a a must-have.