Genius of Illumination Exhibition

[Globaltruth]

I like the new BL building. I shall give Albertini's a try. I'm not sure about "slightly desperate part of London" - don't you like St Pancras International and the restored former Midland Grand Hotel building?

But I take issue with William of Malmesbury in the quotation contained in your "White Ship" link: "No ship ever brought so much misery to England". I'd say it was the ship that brought William the Conqueror here in 1066 (but that's another story)....

Quite right Aeolium - St. Panc and the Midland are absolute gems and treasures, thanks be to St Betjeman, they were absolutely not the parts I was referring to; I meant the minute you leave those particular environs and head up or down the Euston Road.

You're probably right about the ship too...

[aeolium]

I think the short series of programmes Illuminations:The Private Lives of Medieval Kings which the BBC mounted to accompany this exhibition was very good and provided interesting background to the material on display at the British Library.

[french frank]

Thank you for the link. I'm booked to see the exhibition next Monday.

[french frank]

It was absolutely stunning. But I spent so long looking at the early manuscripts of the exhibition that I had to give up after two hours (tired with concentration, I mean) - only half way through

Coincidentally, I'd already been struck by the manuscript of a very famous work (well known to me, anyway), the Miroir Historial of Vincent de Beauvais, and a little phrase (where's vinteuil? ) at the beginning of the first chapter in which Vincent explains why he undertook the work, 'La multitude des liures, la briefute du temps ...' ['So many books, so little time']: it seemed very apt.

These personal belongings really put you in touch with the people of those times, the people who wrote them out, illuminated them, commissioned them and, as with the Alphonso psalter, for whom the books were made.

On until March 13th!

[aeolium]

Thanks for the report. I am going to the exhibition next week and will try to ration my time per manuscript

On the other hand, think how many manuscripts were lost as a result of the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries. I do agree with the comment of the BL curator who said that some of the works on display were among the finest works of art from the medieval period, but have been ignored because paintings have for a long time been more publicly visible.

[french frank]

Thanks for the report. I am going to the exhibition next week and will try to ration my time per manuscript

I think the most spectacular works come early on. The White Ship one was about half way round. One fascinating point: I'm not sure what font was used for the cards giving the details (Bookman Old Style? - I don't remember clearly) but some of the earliest manuscripts, of the 8th and 9th centuries, were written in beautiful, clear hands which reminded me of the much later humanistic styles (16th c.) - and of the typing on the cards.

Another thing: most of the manuscripts on display (and certainly the finest) were collected, as well as commissioned, by various kings and later given to the nation. If I remember, George II and George IV were particular donors. But for them the manuscripts could have ended up anywhere: America, Japan, lighting fires ...

[Maclintick]

I think the most spectacular works come early on. The White Ship one was about half way round. One fascinating point: I'm not sure what font was used for the cards giving the details (Bookman Old Style? - I don't remember clearly) but some of the earliest manuscripts, of the 8th and 9th centuries, were written in beautiful, clear hands which reminded me of the much later humanistic styles (16th c.) - and of the typing on the cards.

Another thing: most of the manuscripts on display (and certainly the finest) were collected, as well as commissioned, by various kings and later given to the nation. If I remember, George II and George IV were particular donors. But for them the manuscripts could have ended up anywhere: America, Japan, lighting fires ...

You're quite correct , French Frank. We're very fortunate that George IV donated the bulk of his collection to the nation,
and that consequently they've remained in this country. I went to this extraordinary exhibition in early January and spent
2 hours standing in complete wonderment before treasures such as the 10th cent Athelstan psalter and the bible consulted by Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey during their theological discussions .My thanks to posters who've reminded me to go again before it closes !

[french frank]

Coincidentally, I'd already been struck by the manuscript of a very famous work (well known to me, anyway), the Miroir Historial of Vincent de Beauvais, and a little phrase (where's vinteuil? ) at the beginning of the first chapter in which Vincent explains why he undertook the work, 'La multitude des liures, la briefute du temps ...' ['So many books, so little time'] : it seemed very apt.

Just found in Wikipedia the page from Vincent that I was talking about:

[aeolium]

A very beautiful illustration, ff. I particularly like the border patterns and the large initial letter of the inscription. What is the figure on the top of the 'honi soit qui mal y pense' coat of arms bottom centre?

Going off at a tangent, I was wondering about the Islamic illuminated manuscript tradition and found this from wiki on the Persian miniature. The detail seems finer and the colouring more vibrant than is generally the case in the western illuminated manuscripts, though some of the latter are also very striking. It would be interesting to see a follow-up exhibition of Islamic illuminated manuscript art, though of course that would require loans from other countries.

[french frank]

What is the figure on the top of the 'honi soit qui mal y pense' coat of arms bottom centre?

It looks like a monkey to me, though the usual royal crest seems to have been a lion. Apparently, the monkey is used as a crest but I can't find a reference to its association with Henry IV. Perhaps the catalogue explains? I'm going to buy one online (which they said at the BL was post free!).

Yes, Persian miniatures are often very delicately painted. I used to have one in a similar style to the first one in the Wiki article (mine from a life of Alexander). Western manuscript illustrations can sometimes seem quite crude, but both are very stylised. Some of the most delicate in this exhibition are the birds painted in the margins, jays, goldfinches &c., rather than the main pictures.