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Medieval Art and Architecture

The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Art and Architecture is a comprehensive coverage of Christian art and architecture with over 1,900 cross referenced entries. Frost was invited to (re-)write the entry on medieval art and architecture in this revised edition in recognition of his specific research work, expertise and critical, informed approach. Its impact rests in its extraordinarily wide circulation. At 7,000 words the entry (the longest in the book) is comprehensive and addresses the previous lack of material, providing an important resource to scholars. It also redresses the bias of the previous edition removing the over-concentration on the Renaissance. Frost was solely responsible for the complete rewriting of this article bringing it up to date with the latest research.

The work addresses deficiencies in the former entry which was derogatory and misguided in terms of the influences and legacy of the medieval period on the art and architecture that followed. The text offers an introduction to the period explaining the different international tendencies in medieval research as well as seeking to contextualize the period in relation to the developing trends emerging during the early Renaissance. The rigour was built from a wide literature search and an understanding of the various trends in medieval research currently being undertaken in Europe and other parts of the world, including work situated within a broad cultural horizon. By bringing many of these themes together the essay argues for a hermeneutic approach to research on the medieval period in order to begin to understand it more thoroughly. It offers a comprehensive holistic understanding which has strong associations with the biblical hermeneutics of the period, with greater possibility for comprehending the breadth of meanings inherent to the medieval world.