Tristan and Isolde

The story of Tristan and Isolde was one of the most popular in the Middle Ages. Resonances of it appear in other narratives, in poetry, and especially in art in the form of wall paintings, wall hangings, tapestries, bed coverings, tablecloths, and other needle work, floor tiles, marriage caskets, mirrors, purses, shoes, and combs. More publicly, scenes from the story appear on misericords from English cathedrals and on Baltic city halls; stone figures grace facades and mantlepieces of grand palaces of the rich bourgeoisie. And, of course, there are a number of illuminated manuscripts illustrating the texts themselves. The purpose of this book is to list all the extant manuscripts and artefacts - objets d'art, and to describe the scenes depicted on them.