A History of Illuminated Manuscripts - Softcover

De Hamel, Christopher

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714834521 ISBN 13: 9780714834528

Publisher: Phaidon Press, 1997

Synopsis

This survey provides an overview of book manufacturing and decoration from late Antiquity to the Renaissance. The differing circumstances in which illuminated manuscripts were created, from monastic Gospels to secular romances, are described, revealing the stories and characters behind the texts.

About this title

Review:

"It is no mere history, but an original, lively and richly illustrated commentary."―Times Literary Supplement

"Gorgeous and informative. A wonderful introduction to handwritten books from the Dark Ages to the invention of printing in the fifteenth century."―Houston Chronicle

"Lavish, beautiful and sweeping look at the beginning of the printed word."―Graphic Arts Monthly

"Along with excellent illustrations, this large volume includes a bibliography and index of manuscripts."―The Good Book Guide

Synopsis:

Medieval manuscripts, with their cold and painted decoration and miniatures, are counted among the great glories of Western civilization. Images from them can be seen everywhere, from greeting cards and wrapping paper to facsimiles. This text offers an introduction to the whole subject of making books, from the Dark Ages to the invention of printing and beyond. The author describes the differing circumstances in which manuscripts were created, from the earliest monastic Gospel Books to university textbooks, secular romances, Books of Hours and classical texts for humanist bibliophiles. The variety of manuscrips and their illumination is revealed, and many fundamental questions discussed - who wrote the books, what texts they contained, who read them, how they were made and what purposes they served.

About this edition

• Publisher: Phaidon Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0714834521
• ISBN 13: 9780714834528
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 272