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Codices illustres. The world's most famous illuminated manuscripts 400 to 1600
From The Book of Kells to Boccaccio’s Decameron, from the Vienna Genesis to Dante’s Divine Comedy: to open Codices illustres is to open the door into a precious, private world. Now in a revised format, this radiant book brings you face-to-face with 167 of the most exquisite and important manuscripts of the medieval age.
Presented in brilliant large-format reproductions, these paradigms of miniature painting and illumination from the 4th century to 1600 were once the property of some of the greatest power players in history. Now art-historical treasures, they are worth many millions and typically tucked away in private collections or closely guarded archives―until now.
Although the focus of this collection is on European manuscripts, examples from Mexican, Persian, and Indian tradition illustrate the refinement and intricacy of manuscript illumination in non-European cultures. An informative synopsis for each manuscript orients the reader at a glance, while a 36-page appendix contains biographies of the artists, as well as an extensive bibliography, an index, and a glossary for technical terms.
Presented in brilliant large-format reproductions, these paradigms of miniature painting and illumination from the 4th century to 1600 were once the property of some of the greatest power players in history. Now art-historical treasures, they are worth many millions and typically tucked away in private collections or closely guarded archives―until now.
Although the focus of this collection is on European manuscripts, examples from Mexican, Persian, and Indian tradition illustrate the refinement and intricacy of manuscript illumination in non-European cultures. An informative synopsis for each manuscript orients the reader at a glance, while a 36-page appendix contains biographies of the artists, as well as an extensive bibliography, an index, and a glossary for technical terms.
504 pages, Hardcover
Published March 26, 2018
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About the author
Ingo F. Walther
133 books52 followersIngo F. Walther was born in Berlin in 1940 and studied medieval studies, literature, and art history in Frankfurt am Main and Munich. He has published numerous books on the art of the Middle Ages and of the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 30, 2022
A very special birthday gift just finished before my next birthday :) Exclusive, comprehensive (including the miniatures from İslamic World as well) and detailed. Realky had troubles to digest the grammar and vocabulary used and have to confess remember very little as I come to end - no worries for me though as it gave me a similar experience as I did the sketching: No matter how insufficient I am, the entire process is priceless
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February 9, 2022good resource to get a sense of style across time and place. kinda gappy narrative though, perhaps unavoidable.
stole a maple leaf motif from one of the manuscripts :)
would have loved this book as a kid//growing up
good gift book....
stole a maple leaf motif from one of the manuscripts :)
would have loved this book as a kid//growing up
good gift book....
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews