DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22423#0108
96
OXFOED—BODLEIAN.
Letter XXIV.
golden letters, " Che livre fu perfais de le enluminouse au 18me
jour d'avryl, per Jehan di Grise, l'an de grace mcccxliiii." As
regards the pictures this date only refers to the first work, and
not entirely to that, as we shall see ; for the pictures in the third
work, and four even in the first, could hardly be executed before
1400. Though the inscription just quoted indicates a French
origin, yet I consider the character of the pictures, as also the
ornamentation of the borders and initials, with the gold scrolled-work
grounds, to bespeak decidedly an English origin, which is further
confirmed by the character of the rich drolleries. Independently
of the four pictures in the first volume which indicate a later
period, there are no less than three different hands distinguishable
in that portion. One artist, whose figures are over long, adheres
in a mechanical way to the usual forms of art observable in the
miniatures of 1300-1350. Most of the pictures are by this hand,
which shows a French influence, and may therefore perhaps be
that of Jean de Grise himself. The other, which is incom-
parably better, and by which the most original and fantastic
drolleries, and also several vignettes, are executed, shows on the
other hand, by the dulness of the gummy and very tender
colours, and the delicately-scumbled draperies, a Netherlandish
influence. By the third and rudest and most antiquated hand
there is only the first picture—the plan of a city with a stream.
This recalls, in style of colours, the manner of the loth century.
The very pretty little pictures on the following page are executed
in that style which obtained in the second half of the 14th century,
with a certain ideality of forms, picturesqueness of drapery, and
softness of manner : they represent Olympia's dream of the snake,
the birth of Alexander, his presentation when a boy at court, and
his knocking at the stall of Bucephalus. The grounds are red,
with very delicate gold designs. Next follow various pictures
by the second hand occupying a whole page, and divided into
various representations with rich Gothic framework, and very
rich panelled grounds of most uncommon patterns. P. 43 b is a
specimen which I mention for the rich and original border deco-
rations, on which, below, are the armorial bearings of the indi-
vidual for whom the MS. was executed, consisting of a golden
lion in a vermilion compartment. On such pages the drolleries
are always particularly rich. They also accompany the numerous
vignettes. Combats with dragons and lions bring the modes of
OXFOED—BODLEIAN.
Letter XXIV.
golden letters, " Che livre fu perfais de le enluminouse au 18me
jour d'avryl, per Jehan di Grise, l'an de grace mcccxliiii." As
regards the pictures this date only refers to the first work, and
not entirely to that, as we shall see ; for the pictures in the third
work, and four even in the first, could hardly be executed before
1400. Though the inscription just quoted indicates a French
origin, yet I consider the character of the pictures, as also the
ornamentation of the borders and initials, with the gold scrolled-work
grounds, to bespeak decidedly an English origin, which is further
confirmed by the character of the rich drolleries. Independently
of the four pictures in the first volume which indicate a later
period, there are no less than three different hands distinguishable
in that portion. One artist, whose figures are over long, adheres
in a mechanical way to the usual forms of art observable in the
miniatures of 1300-1350. Most of the pictures are by this hand,
which shows a French influence, and may therefore perhaps be
that of Jean de Grise himself. The other, which is incom-
parably better, and by which the most original and fantastic
drolleries, and also several vignettes, are executed, shows on the
other hand, by the dulness of the gummy and very tender
colours, and the delicately-scumbled draperies, a Netherlandish
influence. By the third and rudest and most antiquated hand
there is only the first picture—the plan of a city with a stream.
This recalls, in style of colours, the manner of the loth century.
The very pretty little pictures on the following page are executed
in that style which obtained in the second half of the 14th century,
with a certain ideality of forms, picturesqueness of drapery, and
softness of manner : they represent Olympia's dream of the snake,
the birth of Alexander, his presentation when a boy at court, and
his knocking at the stall of Bucephalus. The grounds are red,
with very delicate gold designs. Next follow various pictures
by the second hand occupying a whole page, and divided into
various representations with rich Gothic framework, and very
rich panelled grounds of most uncommon patterns. P. 43 b is a
specimen which I mention for the rich and original border deco-
rations, on which, below, are the armorial bearings of the indi-
vidual for whom the MS. was executed, consisting of a golden
lion in a vermilion compartment. On such pages the drolleries
are always particularly rich. They also accompany the numerous
vignettes. Combats with dragons and lions bring the modes of