J.W. Richter
Illuminated Manuscripts
Fig. 1: Winchester Bible, Second Kings (initial)
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J.W. Richter
Illuminated Manuscripts
-2010-
© 2010 J.W. Richter published by LULU All Rights Reserved ISBN: xxx-x-xxxx-xxxx-x
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Contents Introduction..............................................................................7 600 AD: The Rabbula Gospels.................................................9 Ascension Ascension........ ................. ................. ................. ................. ...................................... .............................. 9 crucifixi crucifixion... on............ ................. ................. ................. ........................................10 ................................10 Canon Tables ................................................................11 800 AD: The Book of Kells...................................................12 1130: St. Albans Psalter.........................................................13 Initals.............................................................................13 Initals.............................................................................14 The Harrowing of Hell .................................................15 1135: The Bury Bible.............................................................16 Frontispiece...................................................................17 1148: The Parc Abbey Bible .................................................18 1175: The Winchester Bible ..................................................19 The Creator-g Creator-god.. od........... ................. ................. ......................................... ................................ 20 Creator-god....................................................................21 The last judgment..........................................................22 Story of Elijah being taken up to heaven......................23 The Morgan Leaf...........................................................24 God addressing Jeremiah..............................................25 Opening of the Book of Hosea......................................26 1229: Codex Gigas.................................................................27 1250: The Morgan Bible .......................................................28 1300: The Fécamp Bible .......................................................29 Book of Psalms....... Psalms................ ................. ............................................. .....................................31 31 Genesis-scene................................................................32
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Figures Fig. 1: Winchester Bible, Second Kings (initial).......................1 Fig. 2: Ascension........................................................................9 Fig. 3: Crucification.................................................................10 Fig. 4: Red & blue alternating decorations..............................11 Fig. 5: Book of Kells................................................ Kells........................... ................................. ...............12 ...12 Fig. 6: Initials from the psalms in the St. Albans Albans Psalter.... Psalter...... .... ...13 .13 Fig. 7: Initials from the psalms in the St. Albans Albans Psalter.... Psalter...... .... ...14 .14 Fig. 8: The Harrowing of Hell.................................................15 Fig. 9: Moses and Aaron (detail)..............................................16 Fig. 10: Frontispiece of the Bury Bible (1135)........................17 Fig. 11: the Virgin and Child ................................................ ................................ ...................18 ...18 Fig. 12: Winchester Winchester Bible. Fol.169. (detail).............................19 (detail).................... .........19 Fig. 13: Winchester Winchester Bible. Fol.169. (detail).............................20 (detail).................... .........20 Fig. 14: Winchester Winchester Bible. Fol.169. (detail).............................21 (detail).................... .........21 Fig. 15: Fol.5, detail. Christ at the Last Judgment...................22 Fig. 16: Winchester Winchester Bible, fol.120v. fol.120v. - Second Kings (detail). .23 Fig. 17: The Morgan Leaf........................................................24 Fig. 18: God addressing Jeremiah in fol. 148..........................25 Fig. 19: Opening of the Book of Hosea...................................26 Fig. 20: Picture from Codex Gigas..........................................27 Fig. 21: The Israelites are repulsed from Hai...........................28 Fig. 22: King David playing a harp.........................................30 Fig. 23: Initial B (Beatus) from the Book of Psalms...............31 Fig. 24: Genesis-scene in the Fecamp Bible (detail)...............32
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Introduction1 In the early Middle Ages, the production of copies of the Bible in its its enti entire rety ty was was rare rare.. Indi Indivi vidu dual al book bookss or coll collec ecti tion onss of books were produced for specific purposes. Gospel Books B ooks were produced for both private study and as "display books" for ceremonial and ornamental purposes. Many of these volumes were elaborate; the Gospel Book was Book was the most common form of heavily illuminated manuscript until about the 11th century, when the Romanesque Bible and Psalter largely superseded it in the West. In the East they remained a significant subject for illumination until the arrival of printing. During the Romanesque period, the focus of major illumination in the West moved from the Gospel Book to the Psalter and the Bible, and the Winchester manuscript is one of the most lavish of a group of Romanesque and early Gothic illuminated Bibles including the Codex Gigas, Gigas, the Parc Abbey Bible, Bible, the Fécamp Bible and the Morgan Bible. Bible. As will be identified in the following examples most decorations of all medieval manuscripts are often in two or three primary colours, in which red and blue are the dominant colours for initials, decorations and illuminations. The Winche incheste sterr Bible Bible will often apply red colours in combi ombin nation tionss with with eithe itherr blu blue or gre green for for init initia ialls and decorations. The colours green and blue may often only be identified at close inspections. From a distance green colours may be mistaken for blue. For this reason we will regularly apply detailed detailed close-ups for the photographs.
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Information from Wikipedia Gospel Book 7
In most analysed illuminations red and blue must be considered as the dominant symbolic colours. Green and gold (or yellow) may be considered as background decorative elements without special religious symbolism. The reason for the dominance of red & blue over green & yello ellow w has has been been expl explai aine ned d in Th Thee He Herm rmet etic ic Co Code dex x as a reference to the (25) divine commands in Book Exodus and will will be conf confir irme med d in the the exam exampl ples es as docu docume ment nted ed in this this manuscript.
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600 AD: The Rabbula Gospels The Rabbula Gospels, Gospels, or Rabula Gospels, (Florence, Biblioteca Medi Medice ceo o Laure urenzia ziana, na, cod. Plu Plut. I, 56) is a 6th centur ntury y illuminated Syriac Gospel Book.
Ascension Although the paintings are basically red & blue the decorations are probably alternating red, blue and green.
Fig. 2: Ascension
Folio 13v of the Rabula Gospels (Mesopotamia, 6th century AD) from Wikimedia Commons
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crucifixion The earliest crucifixion in an illuminated manuscript, manuscript , from the Rabbula Gospels. The decorations at the border of the painting are clearly alternating red , blue and green.
Fig. 3: Crucification Crucification
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Canon Tables The decorations at the border of the tables are clearly alternating red , and blue.
Fig. 4: Red & blue alternating decorations
Folio 4v of the Rabula Gospels (Florence, Biblioteca Mediceo Laurenziana, Laurenziana, cod. Plut. I, 560), Canon Tables Tables
public domain
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800 AD: The Book of Kells The following folio from the Book of Kells reveals the colours red, blue, purple and gold . The lettering is in iron gall ink, and the colours used were derived from a wide range of substances, many of which were imports from distant lands.
Fig. 5: Book of Kells The Book of Kells, c. 800, showing the lavishly decorated text that opens the Gospel of John. Folio 292r, Incipit to John. In principio erat verbum.
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1130: St. Albans Psalter Initals The St. Albans Psalter , also known as the Albani Psalter or the Psalte Psalterr of Christ Christina ina of Marky Markyate ate,, is an English English illumi illuminat nated ed manuscript, one of several Psalters known to have been created at or for St Albans Abbey in the 12th century.
Fig. 6: Initials from the psalms in the St. Albans Psalter. The initials from the beginning of psalms in the St. Albans Psalte Psalterr are basic basically ally colour coloured ed red & blue. Green may be applied as a background colour. public domain because its copyright has expired .
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Initals
Fig. 7: Initials from the psalms in the St. Albans Psalter. The initials from the beginning of psalms in the St. Albans Albans Psalter are basically coloured red & blue. Green may be applied as a background colour. public domain because its copyright has expired .
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The Harrowing of Hell The foll follow owin ing g bord orders and and Chri Christ st''s garm garmeents nts have have bee been decorated in purple and blue.
Fig. 8: The Harrowing of Hell public domain because its copyright has expired .
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1135: The Bury Bible A scene in red, blue, green and yellow -orange from the Bury Hugo. Border decorations are in St Edmunds Bible by Master Hugo. red, blue, yellow and green.
Fig. 9: Moses and Aaron (detail) Moses (in purple and red) and Aaron (in green and blue) explaining the ten commandments
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Frontispiece The frontispiece of the Bury Bible (1135) (1135) displays displays persons persons dressed in red, white and blue garments, illustrated with green background areas.
Fig. 10: Frontispiece of the Bury Bible (1135) Wikimedia Wikimedia Commons. public domain because its copyright has expired.
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1148: The Parc Abbey Bible
Fig. 11: the Virgin and Child Chi ld The Parc Abbey Bible 2 is a 12th century illuminated Bible. It was made in the Leuven region of Belgium at the Abbey of St. Mary of Parc. A colophon on folio 197 indicates that the codex was produced in 1148. The following painting of Mary and Jesus has been coloured in purple-red, blue and green. Miniature of the Virgin and Child from Folio 20r of the Parc Abbey Bible. Bible. 2
London, British Library, Library, Add. MS 14788, 14789, and 14790
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1175: The Winchester Bible The Winchester Bible is a Romanesque illuminated manuscript produced in Winchester between 1160 and 1175. With folios measuring 583 x 396 mm., it is the largest surviving 12thcentury English Bible.
Fig. 12: Winchester Bible. Fol.169. (detail) Analysing folio 169 of the Winchester Bible 3 the initials are repeatedly alternating the colours green, red, blue, red . 3
The images are public are public domain because domain because their copyright has expired.
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The Creator-god At the same folio 169 the initials depict a Creator-god who has been dressed in the traditional red and blue garments. Green is a background colour.
Fig. 13: Winchester Bible. Fol.169. (detail)
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Creator-god At the same folio 169 the initials depict another Creator-god who has been dressed in the traditional red and blue garments. Initials apply red, blue, red, green – combinations.
Fig. 14: Winchester Bible. Fol.169. (detail)
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The last judgment At fol. 5 Christ has been dressed in orange-red and blue garments.
Fig. 15: Fol.5, detail. Christ at the Last Judgment The images are public are public domain because their copyright has expired.
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Story of Elijah being taken up to heaven The Winchester Bible, fol.120v. clearly reveals a few lines of alternated red and blue colours colours at the right side of the P-initial P-initial in the story of Elijah being taken up to heaven.
Fig. 16: Winchester Bible, fol.120v. - Second Kings (detail) The images are public are public domain because their copyright has expired.
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The Morgan Leaf
Fig. 17: The Morgan Leaf The Mor Morgan gan Leaf also clearly depicts a scene in the main colours red and blue. Over ver the the year years, s, the the manu manusc scri ript pt has has suffered suffered at the the hands of thieves thieves and and collectors collectors.. One of these these missing folios, showing scenes from the lives of Samuel on the recto and of King David on the verso, is now in the Morgan Library and is commonly referred to as the Morgan Leaf. 24
God addressing Jeremiah This page of the Winchester Bible clearly reveals a few letters in alternated red and blue colours at the right side of the initial. Other lines apply red & green or blue & green colours.
Fig. 18: God addressing Jeremiah in fol. 148 Fol.148. Detail of God addressing Jeremiah Wikimedia Commons Commons.. public domain because its copyright has expired .
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Opening of the Book of Hosea The Opening of the Book of Hosea shows the prophet Hosea preac preachin hing g to the Israel Israelite itess and and confo confound unding ing the Devil. Devil. The initial lines are coloured in alternating red, blue and green lines.
Fig. 19: Opening of the Book of Hosea
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1229: Codex Gigas The Codex Gigas 4 is the largest extant medieval manuscript in the world. The codex was believed to be created by Herman the Recl Reclus usee in the the Bene Benedi dict ctin inee monas onaste tery ry of Podl Podlaž ažic icee near near Chru Chrudi dim m, whic which h was was dest destro roy yed duri during ng the the 15th 15th cent centur ury y. Records in the codex end in the year 1229. The following painting applies red, orange, blue and green.
Fig. 20: Picture from Codex Gigas
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English: Giant Book
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1250: The Morgan Bible The Morgan Bible uses border decorations in red & blue for illustrations in red, blue and green.
Fig. 21: The Israelites are repulsed from Hai "The Israelites are repulsed from Hai Hai"" (fol. 10r) public domain because its copyright has expired .
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1300: The Fécamp Bible The Fécamp Bible (London, British Library) is an illuminated Latin Bible. It was produced in Paris during the third quarter of the thirteenth century. Each book of the Bible and the major sections of Psalms is introduced by a large initial in colours and gold. Exception are the books of Deuteronomy, Isaiah and Haggai. The openings to Deuteronomy and Isaiah are on folios replaced in the fifteenth century (folios 71 and 301). Folio 301 has large decorated initials at the beginning of the Book of Isaiah. The Book of Hagga Haggaii has large large thirte thirteent enth h centu century ry flouri flourishe shed d initia initiall (folio (folio 391v 391v). ). In all all ther theree 79 exta extant nt larg largee hist histor oria iate ted d init initia ials ls.. The The beginnings of the prologues have large zoomorphic and foliate initials. The beginning of each chapter is marked by a small initial in red with blue pen flourishes or in blue with red pen flourishes.
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Fig. 22: King David playing a harp. Folio 238r of the Fécamp Bible (British Library, Yates Thompson 1), Detail of Initial B (Beatus) from the Book of Psalms. King David playing a harp. Wikimedia Wikimedia Commons. public domain because its copyright has expired.
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Book of Psalms Initials alternating in red and blue in the Book of Psalms.
Fig. 23: Initial B (Beatus) from from the Book of Psalms Folio 238r of the Fécamp Bible (British Library, Yates Thompson 1), Detail of Initial B (Beatus) from the Book of Psalms. King David playing a harp. Wikimedia Wikimedia Commons. public domain because its copyright has expired.
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Genesis-scene The Genesis-scene has been illustrated with red and blue letters "Gene". The Creator-god has been depicted in traditional red and blue garments.
Fig. 24: Genesis-scene Genesis-scene in the Fecamp Bible (detail) Folio 4v of the Fécamp Bible. Historiated initial "I" at the beginning of Genesis with the creation. Wikimedia Wikimedia Commons. public domain because its copyright has expired.
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