Pictures of the Middle Ages (1949)

Drawing exclusively from illuminated manuscripts of the 14th and 15th centuries held by the French National Library, this short documentary presents a medieval vision of life—from Creation and birth through labor, pleasure, death, and the Day of Judgment. Constructed as a visual essay, the film treats manuscript illumination as a complete worldview rather than illustration alone. Screened in competition at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival, it won the Prize for Best Colour.

Director: William Novik
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 18 min
Release Date:
Music: Guy Bernard Delapierre
Editing: Madeleine Bonin
Production: Coopérative Générale Du Cinéma Française
Country: France
Language: Français
Original Language: en

Keywords

medieval art

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pictures of the Middle Ages about?
Drawing exclusively from illuminated manuscripts of the 14th and 15th centuries held by the French National Library, this short documentary presents a medieval vision of life—from Creation and birth through labor, pleasure, death, and the Day of Judgment. Constructed as a visual essay, the film treats manuscript illumination as a complete worldview rather than illustration alone. Screened in competition at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival, it won the Prize for Best Colour.
Who directed Pictures of the Middle Ages?
Pictures of the Middle Ages was directed by William Novik.
How long is Pictures of the Middle Ages?
Pictures of the Middle Ages has a runtime of 18m (18 minutes).
What genre is Pictures of the Middle Ages?
Pictures of the Middle Ages is a Documentary film.
Where was Pictures of the Middle Ages produced?
Pictures of the Middle Ages was produced in France.