Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts
"Trésor de sapience" (Creation to 138 CE), Historiated initial "A" with King Jugurtha and father-in-law Boochus, king of Mauretania, defeated by Roman forces under Gaius Marius at Cirta in Algeria, Walters Manuscript W.307, fol. 228r
This richly decorated manuscript chronicles an account from the creation of the world up to 138 BCE. It was illuminated by associates of Loyset Liédet and Willem Vrelant, and was completed, likely in Bruges, ca. 1470-80. The book itself is a fine example of secular books that were in demand by aristocratic patrons in the southern Netherlands during the third quarter of the fifteenth century. Along with an expansive decoration program, this world history also features key heraldic evidence. The most current armorial shield that was painted among an abraded surrounding area is that of Adolph of Burgundy, seigneur of Bevres, Vere, and Flissinghe. He was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece as of 1516, following his father Philip of Burgundy, and his grandfather Anthony of Burgundy ("Grand Bâtard de Bourgogne," illegitimate son of Philip the Good). The decoration and its organization throughout the text embodies principles of hierarchical design and artistic collaboration typical of expansive pictorial programs in this type of secular text. Of particular note are the six large miniatures, one before major text divisions of the chronicle and each spanning across two columns of text. These illustrations are quite imaginative and varied stylistically. There is a visual emphasis on the Trinity as evinced by the frontispiece, which features a Creation cycle in six medallions. Along with the six large illustrations, six major text divisions, and six medallion Creation cycle, this manuscript recalls Augustinian tenets on Trinitarianism linked with the Six Days of Creation, the Six Ages of Man, and the Six Ages of the World.
To explore fully digitized manuscripts with a virtual page-turning application, please visit Walters Ex Libris.
"Trésor de sapience" (Creation to 138 CE), Historiated initial "A" with King Jugurtha and father-in-law Boochus, king of Mauretania, defeated by Roman forces under Gaius Marius at Cirta in Algeria, Walters Manuscript W.307, fol. 228r
This richly decorated manuscript chronicles an account from the creation of the world up to 138 BCE. It was illuminated by associates of Loyset Liédet and Willem Vrelant, and was completed, likely in Bruges, ca. 1470-80. The book itself is a fine example of secular books that were in demand by aristocratic patrons in the southern Netherlands during the third quarter of the fifteenth century. Along with an expansive decoration program, this world history also features key heraldic evidence. The most current armorial shield that was painted among an abraded surrounding area is that of Adolph of Burgundy, seigneur of Bevres, Vere, and Flissinghe. He was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece as of 1516, following his father Philip of Burgundy, and his grandfather Anthony of Burgundy ("Grand Bâtard de Bourgogne," illegitimate son of Philip the Good). The decoration and its organization throughout the text embodies principles of hierarchical design and artistic collaboration typical of expansive pictorial programs in this type of secular text. Of particular note are the six large miniatures, one before major text divisions of the chronicle and each spanning across two columns of text. These illustrations are quite imaginative and varied stylistically. There is a visual emphasis on the Trinity as evinced by the frontispiece, which features a Creation cycle in six medallions. Along with the six large illustrations, six major text divisions, and six medallion Creation cycle, this manuscript recalls Augustinian tenets on Trinitarianism linked with the Six Days of Creation, the Six Ages of Man, and the Six Ages of the World.
To explore fully digitized manuscripts with a virtual page-turning application, please visit Walters Ex Libris.