In this post for free subscribers we’ll start to take a look at the medieval book, manuscripts, that were often richly illustrated and cost more than your house to have made. The world of manuscript art is a fascinating blend of devotion, artistry, craftsmanship and scholarship that flourished across medieval Europe from the Carolingian Renaissance to the invention of the printing press, between the 6th and 16th centuries. These manuscripts are not just texts; they are vibrant visual masterpieces that provide a window into the medieval mind and its intricate interplay of faith, culture, and artistic expression.
I never knew about the Utrecht Psalter and its iterations in different places - that is amazing with the wonderful simple drawings. I'm gobsmacked yet again. Thank you for highlighting these wonderful manuscripts.
I'm so glad you took an interest in this one. I was going to talk about it more, but it's such an odd little anomaly that it seemed like it would be too much of a distraction. But I stuck the video in because I was completely fascinated by it. We're going to do some work on the Carolingian, so we can stick it in there.
Thank you! I feel enriched with every post you make about these treasures. I may not remember all the gradations of Gothic art, but some things are sinking in. (And I have a special love for illuminated manuscripts.)
Wonderful look at the manuscripts. I cannot imagine the hours involved. It is very interesting to see how the common thematic elements of eastern iconography played out and were reinterpreted in different ways. I have a small King James Gospel book from the 1980s that has many different illuminations on colored plates. I don't often use it in my devotions, but it is lovely to bring out at times - your essays help understand the different illumination types used throughout. I'll have to pull it out again tonight and revisit it.
Minor correction: "As we transition to the Carolingian Renaissance in the 8th and 9th centuries on the continent, we witness an attempt at a revival of the social, political and cultural order of classical antiquity under Charlemagne, the first western emperor after Constantine removed to Byzantium. "
There were a number of strictly western emperors after Constantine until the last was deposed in 476 (and a few who ruled a unified empire). Charlemagne may have stylized himself as the western emperor reinstated, but the Frankish empire was really very much a new creation with no political or dynastic connection to its namesake.
Hah. Trust an Ortho-guy to get into the fine distinctions. We're soon going to be diving into the Carolingian, once we're through some more stuff about the late Gothic and Italian Trecento. Probably in July. So we'll certainly get into all that. I was fascinated by the connection between the crowning of Charlemagne and the resolution of Iconoclasm in the east.
What's really peculiar is that the decision of 7th Council, which declared against iconoclasm, when it first reached the Frankish court did so by way of a very faulty translation into Latin. This mis-translation confused much Greek terminology to the point where in key sections it was translated to say the very opposite thing. So the council was condemned in the West and not looked at until almost a century later when an accurate Latin translation finally got the official review and approval.
I never knew about the Utrecht Psalter and its iterations in different places - that is amazing with the wonderful simple drawings. I'm gobsmacked yet again. Thank you for highlighting these wonderful manuscripts.
I'm so glad you took an interest in this one. I was going to talk about it more, but it's such an odd little anomaly that it seemed like it would be too much of a distraction. But I stuck the video in because I was completely fascinated by it. We're going to do some work on the Carolingian, so we can stick it in there.
Thank you! I feel enriched with every post you make about these treasures. I may not remember all the gradations of Gothic art, but some things are sinking in. (And I have a special love for illuminated manuscripts.)
I can't make out the tetramorphic symbolism. They all look like the eagle (the symbol of St. John).
They key is the vision of Ezekiel. They all have wings, so you have to look closely.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetramorph
Thank you for the link. I took another look at them and I'm guessing that the three are St. John , St. Mark and possibly St. Matthew ?
Wonderful look at the manuscripts. I cannot imagine the hours involved. It is very interesting to see how the common thematic elements of eastern iconography played out and were reinterpreted in different ways. I have a small King James Gospel book from the 1980s that has many different illuminations on colored plates. I don't often use it in my devotions, but it is lovely to bring out at times - your essays help understand the different illumination types used throughout. I'll have to pull it out again tonight and revisit it.
Minor correction: "As we transition to the Carolingian Renaissance in the 8th and 9th centuries on the continent, we witness an attempt at a revival of the social, political and cultural order of classical antiquity under Charlemagne, the first western emperor after Constantine removed to Byzantium. "
There were a number of strictly western emperors after Constantine until the last was deposed in 476 (and a few who ruled a unified empire). Charlemagne may have stylized himself as the western emperor reinstated, but the Frankish empire was really very much a new creation with no political or dynastic connection to its namesake.
Hah. Trust an Ortho-guy to get into the fine distinctions. We're soon going to be diving into the Carolingian, once we're through some more stuff about the late Gothic and Italian Trecento. Probably in July. So we'll certainly get into all that. I was fascinated by the connection between the crowning of Charlemagne and the resolution of Iconoclasm in the east.
What's really peculiar is that the decision of 7th Council, which declared against iconoclasm, when it first reached the Frankish court did so by way of a very faulty translation into Latin. This mis-translation confused much Greek terminology to the point where in key sections it was translated to say the very opposite thing. So the council was condemned in the West and not looked at until almost a century later when an accurate Latin translation finally got the official review and approval.
Thank you for condensing and compiling all these landmark pieces into one post! Very helpful to artists like myself. Thank you!🙏