DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22421#0203
pen, occasionally of a precise character, but more often devoid
of all decision. In many instances the black outlines are circum-
scribed with blue, red, and green, or slightly tinted with these
colours. As regards the draperies, which are disposed towards the
edge in narrow folds not unlike a border of cabbage-leaves, they
are made so fluttering, though totally devoid of anything like
action, that they appear to be blown about in different directions.
Only seldom is the influence of the contemporary Frankish or of
the Byzantine miniature-painting seen, and with it a formal style
of execution in body-colours. On the other hand, in the initials,
in the border ornaments, and in the architectonic accessories, in
which the forms of late antique art were long preserved, as also
in the conventional shape of the trees, there are evidences of that
constructive feeling of which the English gave such numerous and
brilliant specimens during the middle ages. With all this these
miniatures are far inferior to Irish art in delicacy of execution
and originality of invention, but, while they show the partial
influence of that school in their dragons and flourishes, and of the
Frankish school in the earliest forms of Romanesque art, yet they
also display very peculiar and finely conceived forms, drawn with a
certain breadth and much decision of hand, which, illuminated as
they are, with light, cool, broken tones, are not wanting in an
harmonious and original effect of colour. At the same time I
must add that the decorated portions and the human figures are
executed by different hands. The following are the most im-
portant of the illuminated MSS. of this school which the British
Museum possesses.
A MS. of Cicero's translation of the astronomical poem of
Aratus (Flarleian, No. 617, vol. i., 4to.) gave occasion for a
learned essay by the late Mr. Ottley, printed in the 'Trans-
actions of the Society of Antiquaries for the year 1835,' of which
Sir Henry Ellis presented me with a copy. As this MS. is written
in minuscule letters, which, it has hitherto been assumed, are not
generally met with till the tenth century, the MS. is probably of
that age. The miniatures of the constellations which it contains,
appeared to Mr. Ottley to approach so near to antique painting
in the designs, the forms, and the treatment, that he was thereby
induced to ascribe the origin of this MS. to the second or third
century. In order to establish this opinion, he has expended much
labour, acuteness, and learning to prove that the use of minus-
of all decision. In many instances the black outlines are circum-
scribed with blue, red, and green, or slightly tinted with these
colours. As regards the draperies, which are disposed towards the
edge in narrow folds not unlike a border of cabbage-leaves, they
are made so fluttering, though totally devoid of anything like
action, that they appear to be blown about in different directions.
Only seldom is the influence of the contemporary Frankish or of
the Byzantine miniature-painting seen, and with it a formal style
of execution in body-colours. On the other hand, in the initials,
in the border ornaments, and in the architectonic accessories, in
which the forms of late antique art were long preserved, as also
in the conventional shape of the trees, there are evidences of that
constructive feeling of which the English gave such numerous and
brilliant specimens during the middle ages. With all this these
miniatures are far inferior to Irish art in delicacy of execution
and originality of invention, but, while they show the partial
influence of that school in their dragons and flourishes, and of the
Frankish school in the earliest forms of Romanesque art, yet they
also display very peculiar and finely conceived forms, drawn with a
certain breadth and much decision of hand, which, illuminated as
they are, with light, cool, broken tones, are not wanting in an
harmonious and original effect of colour. At the same time I
must add that the decorated portions and the human figures are
executed by different hands. The following are the most im-
portant of the illuminated MSS. of this school which the British
Museum possesses.
A MS. of Cicero's translation of the astronomical poem of
Aratus (Flarleian, No. 617, vol. i., 4to.) gave occasion for a
learned essay by the late Mr. Ottley, printed in the 'Trans-
actions of the Society of Antiquaries for the year 1835,' of which
Sir Henry Ellis presented me with a copy. As this MS. is written
in minuscule letters, which, it has hitherto been assumed, are not
generally met with till the tenth century, the MS. is probably of
that age. The miniatures of the constellations which it contains,
appeared to Mr. Ottley to approach so near to antique painting
in the designs, the forms, and the treatment, that he was thereby
induced to ascribe the origin of this MS. to the second or third
century. In order to establish this opinion, he has expended much
labour, acuteness, and learning to prove that the use of minus-