Manuscripts & Rare Books

Stories about medieval manuscripts, illuminated manuscripts, and rare books in Getty’s collections

Latest

  1. What's the Story Here?

    A detail of an illuminated manuscript where a robed person holds an open palm toward a brown circle with a wisp curled around it

    Fresh takes on medieval manuscripts

    Apr 15, 2025

  2. A Medieval Feminist Manuscript Makes Its Getty Museum Debut

    Manuscript illustration of a woman sitting at a desk with an open book, facing a group of young women

    How a pioneering feminist writer championed women’s moral and intellectual power

    Mar 26, 2025

  3. The Illuminated Manuscripts of Eufrasia Burlamacchi on Display in This Stunning New Monograph

    Eufrasia Burlamacchi book cover

    The colorful, elaborately decorated manuscripts show an artist at the height of her power

    Feb 7, 2025

  4. Getty Undergraduate Interns Take Center Stage in Manuscripts Exhibition

    Group of people stand staggered on stairs for a class photo in front of a white building.

    Manuscripts with personal interpretations from Getty interns will be on view at the Getty Center

    Jan 29, 2025

  5. Welcome to (Medieval) Hell

    A detail of an illumination: a grey monster opens his mouth wide. Between his teeth several people stand in flames

    Curious about how the Middle Ages envisioned hell? Let’s dive into some intriguing depictions!

    Oct 2, 2024

  6. Getty Presents Rising Signs: The Medieval Science of Astrology

    A manuscript page filled with green, blue and red text, and drawings around its margins.

    Exhibition explores medieval representations of the 12 signs of the zodiac

    Aug 27, 2024

  7. An ASMR Unboxing Video

    An image of a library. Two women arrange a book on a table. Superimposed, white text reads "Headphones On"

    A tickle, tap, whisper, art experience

    Aug 15, 2024

  8. unaulutu: Pebbles in the Sand

    Artists’ book standing upright, opened to a print featuring white mythical creatures against a dark background; opposite of the print is the title page unaulutu Steinchen im Sand

    A rare artist’s book from East Germany

    Aug 15, 2024

  9. Find Love, Adventure, and Extraordinary Worlds in Tiny Manuscript Spaces

    Medieval illustration showing robed men gathered around tomb of man and two women, with a man in blue robe shown three times reading a book, talking to a priest, and writing at a desk

    Explore a 15th-century epic through dazzling illustrations

    Jul 17, 2024

  10. Finally, the Other Half of the Story

    Two manuscript pages next to each other. On the left, an illustration of Jesus being held by Mary, surrounded by women in robes with halos. On right, a man kneeling, facing Christ, with men around him

    Missing for nearly 180 years, a manuscript page, only half of an illustration, travels from France to Getty for a happy reunion

    Jul 10, 2024