Art Fund
What's On
Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination
British Library | 11 Nov, 2011 - 11 Mar, 2012
50% off with National Art Pass | Full venue & entry details
Pandolfo Collenuccio, 'Apologues' and Lucian of Samosata, 'Dialogues', Rome and Florence, c 1507-9Image 1 of 5 | British Library
Jean de Wavrin, Edward IV receives Jean de Wavrin's Chronicle, Bruges, c 1475Image 2 of 5 | British Library
The Shrewsbury Book, Rouen, 1445, Henry VI receives the Earl of Shrewsbury's wedding presentImage 3 of 5 | British Library
The New Minster Charter, Winchester, 966, King Edgar presenting his charter to ChristImage 4 of 5 | British Library
Bible historiale (Proverbs), Paris, 1411, King Solomon instructs his son RehoboamImage 5 of 5 | British Library
Overview
Pandolfo Collenuccio, 'Apologues' and Lucian of Samosata, 'Dialogues', Rome and Florence, c 1507-9Image 1 of 5 | British LibraryJean de Wavrin, Edward IV receives Jean de Wavrin's Chronicle, Bruges, c 1475Image 2 of 5 | British LibraryThe Shrewsbury Book, Rouen, 1445, Henry VI receives the Earl of Shrewsbury's wedding presentImage 3 of 5 | British LibraryThe New Minster Charter, Winchester, 966, King Edgar presenting his charter to ChristImage 4 of 5 | British LibraryBible historiale (Proverbs), Paris, 1411, King Solomon instructs his son RehoboamImage 5 of 5 | British LibraryThe British Library is giving visitors a rare chance to look inside the handwritten books from the Middle Ages that belonged to kings and queens of England.
Writing in Art Quarterly magazine, Scot McKendrick argues that they are valuable not just for their beautiful illuminations, but also for what they reveal about their owners:
'Despite centuries of warfare and social, religious and cultural disruption, royal manuscripts still exist in large numbers, and their tens of thousands of pages contain some of the most outstanding examples of decorative and figurative painting made in Britain from the 8th to the 16th century. The state of preservation of these illuminations is remarkable, their colours often as vivid as when they were first painted; their gold still makes their pages glow and flicker in the light for us, as they did for those who first viewed them centuries ago. Their creators evidently took great pride in them: as one contemporary inscription puts it, ‘The beauty of this book displays my genius.’
'However, royal manuscripts do much more than declare the artistry of their makers. They offer unique insights into the life and aspirations of those for whom they were made. In them we have the most vivid surviving sources for understanding royal identity, moral and religious beliefs, learning and politics. Through careful interpretation of their texts and images, we can deepen our understanding of what it was to be a king in the Middle Ages, and find answers to some key questions about medieval monarchs.'
What the critics say
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"The show is a window into a world that is all too rarely seen..." Judith Flanders - The Arts Desk
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"Sheer beauty, though, is the dominant reason for hurrying to this well thought-out show. The vibrant coloured inks and glowing gold leaf appear as if freshly applied, thanks to the care of successive royal librarians. And although it can feel like hard work perusing even the larger-format pages in a darkened room (how ever did the Tudors manage by candlelight?), close study pays off in fun discoveries, such as the twins Romulus and Remus, in a grandly illustrated French history of Rome, pictured as tiny babies suckling from a proud she-wolf, a passing peasant throwing up his hands in surprise." Jenny Gilbert - The Independent