In the Middle Ages and
Renaissance, art was an important part of everyday life. Not only did it serve
to make life more beautiful, but it was also a teaching tool and a means of
conveying social status in a society that was largely illiterate. Stained glass
windows and paintings taught religious and moral lessons, while clothing,
jewelry, and furniture all indicated their owners' social status. In an age
where everything was hand-made, a skilled craftsman (or woman) could turn an
everyday object into a thing of beauty that would be handed down for
generations. Architects, shoemakers, illuminators, and potters have all produced
items that even today continue to enrich our lives by allowing us to study how
people lived hundreds of years ago.
Scholars also made important
contributions to the period. Some worked to preserve the past; it is through
their efforts to find and conserve the works of ancient Greece and Rome that
these works are available to us today. Others explored new areas of learning and
new ways of thinking. Their work helped them to understand the world around
them, and improved their lives and the lives of those around them.
In the
modern Middle Ages, artistry and the pursuit of
knowledge are equally important. The people who practice the arts and sciences
of the period we study make these modern Middle Ages the best they can be by
reviving period techniques in clothing, painting, textiles, woodworking and
leather working, just to name a few. It takes all of these skills and more to
create the Medieval environment for which we strive at
every event. The Minister of Arts and Sciences helps promote and encourage this
integral aspect of the Society by connecting eager learners with the resources
and experts they need to further their studies.