Saturday 26 March 2016

Manuscrits et livres précieux retrouvés en Allemagne (1949)

My recent posts about manuscripts recovered from Germany after World War II seem to have been popular, so here is another, consisting mainly just of images of the catalogue including its brief preface, followed by a few identifications.
Manuscrits et livres précieux retrouvés en Allemagne: Exposition organisée par la Commission de récupération artistique (Bibliothèque nationale, Paris, 1949).

Saturday 19 March 2016

The MFA Jaquemart de Hesdin Miniatures

In a post almost a year ago I mentioned that one of the most interesting things about a cutting at the LA County Museum of Art, is what the text on its back tells us about the parent manuscript.

I was recently able to see the four sister cuttings at the MFA, Boston, and a Conservator there kindly relaxed the hinge of the Entombment miniature (43.215) for me, so that the reverse can now be seen and photographed more easily.

Saturday 12 March 2016

The Hours of Philip Ringstone

Looking through old photos taken on a visit to Bristol Reference Library I came across my pictures of their MS 11.

Saturday 5 March 2016

A Psalter Leaf at Harvard

When writing the previous post about the leaves and cuttings sold by Gustav Nebehay in 1926, I concentrated on the catalogue entries that are accompanied by reproductions. I also looked through the descriptions that do not have plates, however, and felt sure I recognised lot 120, but could not immediately remember where I knew it from:
"120   Baptism of Christ. An interesting and early miniature of John Baptising Christ (140mm. by 95mm.). On the left is John the Baptist ... In the centre the figure of Christ in Jordan ... On the right an attendant angel with towel. On the back of the miniature is a large and finely designed initial B in burnished gold on a blue ground ... Germany, XIII Cent."
Soon after posting the blog I remembered where I had seen it: it is now Houghton Library, MS Typ 997 (described here):