The Bright Ages
Special exhibition at the National Museum of Denmark from 8 June to 24 October 1999
The Middle Ages were not necessarily the dark period of history we believe it to be. Even though many people of today associate medieval times with poverty, oppression, disease and deprivation, it was in fact a truly colourful era: both costumes, jewellery, tapestries and murals were richly coloured. The great technical progress, the sophisticated culinary traditions and society's focus on festive occasions and entertainment also tell us of a colourful historical period. In a combination of original artefacts, reconstructions, slides, video, light and sound, the National Museum's new special exhibition revises the myth of "the dark Middle Ages".
Wherever traces of colour appear, they remind us of how the people of the Middle Ages enjoyed an abundance of rich colours. It is revealed in their costumes, jewellery, riding equipment, heraldry etc. in addition to the more well-known decorations of the churches such as the murals, the golden altars, the painted saint statues and the servers' costumes together with the entire liturgical apparatus. Every individual and institution signals its position in society through different symbols and colours. And the colourfulness is not confined to the literal sense of the word: the Middle Ages were also colourful in terms of great technical progress, a sophisticated culinary tradition and health culture, and society's focus on festive occasions and entertainment both inside and outside the church. Besides, it was an era of distinct international orientation.
The Exhibition is designed around a medieval fold-out calendar displaying the characteristics of each month by simple, expressive motives, as for example the harvest in September. Each of the twelve monthly pictures has inspired a theme section, which displays important aspects of medieval society and everyday life.
In one section of the Exhibition, "Man, Nutrition and Medicine", it is demonstrated that medieval man was in fact rather tall, which shows us that the general state of health in the population was quite good. However, the average height declined dramatically in the 17th and 18th centuries and did not reach the medieval average until the early 1950s.
In the centre of the Exhibition is a reconstruction of a medieval town square with church, booths and workshops and in the middle of the square stands the pillory designed to take four persons at a time.
Somewhere else the themes of power and status are illustrated via showcases placed on a large chessboard.
In the medieval tent, the children may try board games and toys and listen to musical instruments of the time on a computer.
"Between Heaven and Hell", a theme which rounds up the Exhibition, ends at two doors without nameplates, one leading to Heaven, the other to Hell…
"The Bright Ages" is the National Museum's contribution to the celebration of "Middle Ages 99", Denmark's year of the Middle Ages, which is a comprehensive research and cultural project comprising more than 800 activities nationally.
