Wellcome Collection homepage
All
Stories
Images
Catalogue
Events

Stories

  • Article

Revelations of blindness in the Middle Ages

Medieval texts, from Islamic medical treatises to Christian books of miracles, reveal surprisingly varied and complex experiences of blindness. But when medieval scholar Jude Seal experienced visual impairment themselves, they gained an even deeper understanding of the lives they were studying.

  • Article

Confession as therapy in the Middle Ages

The line between confession and counselling has been blurred for centuries.

  • Article

Guide dogs or good dogs from the Middle Ages

Medieval illustrations often show blind people, sometimes with dogs. But working out whether these were actually guide dogs involves a mix of detailed detective work and expert speculation.

  • In pictures

Advice for (medieval) old age

Whether it was an abstemious, pious preparation for death or drinking gold in the quest for eternal life, those seeking advice on what best to do in their later years were never short of inspiration.

All stories (69)

Images

  • Reducing dislocated vertebrae in the Moslem Middle Ages.
  • A key to the main developments of the Middle Ages.
  • Four different hair-styles and head-dresses worn by women in the late middle ages. Coloured engraving.
  • A manual for the study of the sepulchral slabs and crosses of the Middle Ages / By the Rev. Edward L. Cutts, B. A.
  • A manual for the study of the sepulchral slabs and crosses of the Middle Ages / By the Rev. Edward L. Cutts, B. A.
  • A manual for the study of the sepulchral slabs and crosses of the Middle Ages / By the Rev. Edward L. Cutts, B. A.
  • A history of domestic manners and sentiments in England during the middle ages / by Thomas Wright ; with illustrations from the illuminations in contemporary manuscripts and other sources, drawn & engraved by F.W. Fairholt.
  • A history of domestic manners and sentiments in England during the middle ages / by Thomas Wright ; with illustrations from the illuminations in contemporary manuscripts and other sources, drawn & engraved by F.W. Fairholt.
  • The book of the feet, a history of boots and shoes. With illustrations of the fashions of the Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks and Romans, and the prevailing style throughout Europe during the Middle Ages down to the present period; Also hints to last makers and remedies for corns, etc., etc / J. Sparkes Hall.
  • The book of the feet, a history of boots and shoes. With illustrations of the fashions of the Egyptians, Hebrews, Persians, Greeks and Romans, and the prevailing style throughout Europe during the Middle Ages down to the present period; Also hints to last makers and remedies for corns, etc., etc / J. Sparkes Hall.
All images (185)

Catalogue

All works (1.5K)

Events

  • Discussion

Monstrous Births in the Middle Ages

Online
Available to watch

Part of Exploring Research

  • Discussion

Life, death and art in the Middle Ages

Henry Wellcome Auditorium
Past
  • Seminar

Predicting Life and Death in the Later Middle Ages

Viewing Room
Past

Part of Exploring Research

All events (3)