Manuscripts on Display

Among the rare works on display are:

• an 8th-century Northumbrian Gospel Book, whose illumination is closely related to that of the famous Lindisfarne Gospels - from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
• a 14th-century illuminated Apocalypse with over 90 illustrations, together with 24 coloured drawings of the life of St Edward, added in the early 15th century - from Trinity College, Cambridge
• a 14th-century French copy of the famous allegorical poem Le Roman de La Rose - from Cambridge University Library
• outstanding examples of 16th-century Netherlandish illumination in a group of leaves from a set of church Choir Books and from a Book of Hours of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg - from the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
• a history of the Roman emperors which was made for renowned Florentine arts patron Lorenzo de' Medici. It features Lorenzo's arms and insignia on the opening page, and over 80 medallion portraits of the emperors - from the State Library of Victoria
• a splendidly illuminated Gospel Book from 12th-century Constantinople - from the National Gallery of Victoria
• a treatise on music by Boethius, illuminated in the 12th century and once belonging to the medieval library of Christ Church, Canterbury - from the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington
• a richly illuminated Breviary from Renaissance Perugia - from the Auckland City Libraries.

Each manuscript on display is a unique and beautifully handcrafted object. In many cases the script is enhanced with intricate embellishments and illustrated with beautiful paintings known as miniatures. Although centuries old, their colours remain remarkably fresh and brilliant. The gold leaf and costly pigments which adorn many manuscripts have given rise to the term ’illumination’. (Today, this term refers to all decoration and illustration in medieval and Renaissance manuscripts, even simple pen and ink drawings.)

In addition to a wealth of information on art and learning, the manuscripts provide a fascinating insight into the life and times of the medieval and Renaissance periods. Many feature beautiful and detailed paintings which illustrate the people and customs of the medieval world – often in a whimsical or humorous manner. In the lavishly decorated pages of these centuries-old masterpieces, the medieval world comes to life in glowing colour, highlighted with precious gold and silver.

Illustration

Boethius, de Musica and Guido of Arezzo, Micrologus, England, Christ Church, Canterbury, c1130-60, Alexander Turnbull Library, The National Library, Wellington MSR-05, fol 27v