January 24 through May 25, 2025
From the tales of famous travelers like Marco Polo and Alexander the Great to the ancient encyclopedias of Pliny and Isidore, medieval conceptions of the world were often based more on authoritative tradition than direct observation. This exhibition presents one of the most fascinating examples of a medieval guide to the globe, known as the Book of the Marvels of the World.
Master of the Geneva Boccaccio, Traponee (Sri Lanka), France, Probably Angers, ca. 1460-65, in the Book of the Marvels of the World, Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum, MS 124, fol. 32r (detail).