DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22421#0168
104
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Letter V.
The background, also, consists of architecture, heightened with
silver (turned black), showing a similar influence. The border
decorations are particularly tasteful. On the opposite page is
Christ, with a rather long beard, in the act of benediction, with
two angels.
CARLOVINGIAN MANUSCRIPTS.
I now proceed to describe the miniatures of the MSS. of that
period, two of which are here.
An Evangeliarium (Harleian, No. 3788). With the excep-
tion of St. Jerome's epistle to Pope Damasus, the prologue, and
the argument, which are all in golden minuscule letters, this
MS. is entirely written in golden capitals, of Carlovingian cha-
racter, in two columns, divided by painted stripes, and hence
called the Codex aureus. This very valuable work agrees so
entirely with the Evangeliarium executed for Charlemagne, to
which historical allusion is here made, which formerly belonged
to the private library of the Kings of France, and has now pro-
bably passed into the Bibliotheque Nationale,* that I have no
doubt that this was also executed by order of that monarch. It
also greatly resembles | an Evangeliarium in the Bibliotheque
Nationale (Supplement, Latin, No. 686), which, in my opinion,
was executed for Charlemagne. As respects the figures, this
MS. appears to me the best of the three ; in elegance of decoration,
however, it may be placed below the others. In my opinion it
is rather the latest in date of the three, and belongs to the latter
time of Charlemagne, and therefore to the beginning of the 9th
century. For besides the types of early Christian art, and the
influence of Byzantine painting, which it has in common with the
others, and even in a stronger degree, we find here a few single
pictures by a hand evidently imbued with local Frankish art,i as
seen in the miniatures executed for the Emperors Lothaire and
Charles the Bald. The Canons, on eleven pages, each divided
with arches into four columns, are very splendidly adorned. On
the gilt shafts of the pillars red and white flourishes are intro-
duced. The corn-yellow colour of the gold, with the framework
* See description in Kunstwerke und Kiinstler in Paris, p. 23-1.
f For further description see Kunstwerke und Kiinstler in Paris, p. 237.
J By the term "Frankish art " is here understood, the art which flourished in the
dominions of Charlemagne from about the year 700 to 1000.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.
Letter V.
The background, also, consists of architecture, heightened with
silver (turned black), showing a similar influence. The border
decorations are particularly tasteful. On the opposite page is
Christ, with a rather long beard, in the act of benediction, with
two angels.
CARLOVINGIAN MANUSCRIPTS.
I now proceed to describe the miniatures of the MSS. of that
period, two of which are here.
An Evangeliarium (Harleian, No. 3788). With the excep-
tion of St. Jerome's epistle to Pope Damasus, the prologue, and
the argument, which are all in golden minuscule letters, this
MS. is entirely written in golden capitals, of Carlovingian cha-
racter, in two columns, divided by painted stripes, and hence
called the Codex aureus. This very valuable work agrees so
entirely with the Evangeliarium executed for Charlemagne, to
which historical allusion is here made, which formerly belonged
to the private library of the Kings of France, and has now pro-
bably passed into the Bibliotheque Nationale,* that I have no
doubt that this was also executed by order of that monarch. It
also greatly resembles | an Evangeliarium in the Bibliotheque
Nationale (Supplement, Latin, No. 686), which, in my opinion,
was executed for Charlemagne. As respects the figures, this
MS. appears to me the best of the three ; in elegance of decoration,
however, it may be placed below the others. In my opinion it
is rather the latest in date of the three, and belongs to the latter
time of Charlemagne, and therefore to the beginning of the 9th
century. For besides the types of early Christian art, and the
influence of Byzantine painting, which it has in common with the
others, and even in a stronger degree, we find here a few single
pictures by a hand evidently imbued with local Frankish art,i as
seen in the miniatures executed for the Emperors Lothaire and
Charles the Bald. The Canons, on eleven pages, each divided
with arches into four columns, are very splendidly adorned. On
the gilt shafts of the pillars red and white flourishes are intro-
duced. The corn-yellow colour of the gold, with the framework
* See description in Kunstwerke und Kiinstler in Paris, p. 23-1.
f For further description see Kunstwerke und Kiinstler in Paris, p. 237.
J By the term "Frankish art " is here understood, the art which flourished in the
dominions of Charlemagne from about the year 700 to 1000.