Art, liturgy, and the five senses in the early Middle Ages
Résumé
The role of the senses in medieval Western culture has been relatively well studied by several authors but never in detail in connection with art and liturgy. This article presents a thorough investigation of the natural links between art, liturgy, and the five senses in the early Middle Ages in the West. Initially, it is to highlight the sensory dimension of the medieval liturgy, and, more generally, of all medieval ritual. Based on the historiography of the topic, the article proposes the definition of a methodological ane theoretical framework. The article then offers an exploration of the relationship between art, liturgy, and the five senses through the illustration of certain liturgical books of the Middle Ages, such as the Gospel books and sacramenties. The liturgical book shown is not only considered as a functional object but also as a "sacred space" to be activated by the five senses in the course of the liturgy and intented to give it meaning.