What an awesome illumination and enjoyable read! Very interesting points regarding St. Luke being placed in the mandorla. I love the investigation into such mysterious symbolism that you do. I had never heard of the Ottonian Renaissance before but would love to learn more about that time. It just goes to show you how terms like “Middle Ages” or “Medieval” or especially “Dark Ages” are such misnomers for widely disparate and dynamic cultural periods.
What a stunning illustration, and a gorgeous book. The effort that went into a book like that is remarkable and hard for us to imagine now when books are mass-produced. As others have commented, this definitely makes one want to visit Reichenau!
Wonderful thanks for this! I grew up with a picture of Kells on the wall, and I love this time and place in history ever since that silly book by M. Baigent et al. And 'The Secret of Kells' seems so incongruous in the modern canon, doesn't it.
Thank you Amelia. Illuminated manuscripts are such a blessed gift from the Christians if the past. Viewing the Book of Kells and other manuscripts at Trinity College in Dublin was an important step in my spiritual journey!
They display just one page a day, or at least that’s how it was when I was there. My husband loves to put on this show called Cheap Irish Homes. It’s kind of cool, kind of torture. Hopefully we will return someday and see one more page! 😂
I love reading Hilary White and it shows me the way the beautiful reveals God. as a teacher, I have always mainly relied on words to know more about God —I’m so glad that there are now multiple sources revealing that our heritage goes further back than carpeted churches and burlap hangings of scripture (I’m a boomer and remember the immediate change of post Vatican 2 vividly
Thanks Stephen! I want to see the island too! Sadly a lot of the original churches were destroyed, but the the big abbey church of Saint George is there.
I feel like I'm in a race with you guys. I've got Ottonian pencilled in for early November. At some point we're going to have to start working together just so we don't end up constantly repeating each other's work.
Yeah, we really should. I don’t have any more Ottonian planned at least for the next couple of months. I love the Ottonian though. It’s one of my favorite periods. I’m excited for your posts on it. I’m sure they’ll be much more comprehensive than the page I’ve about written here.
When I was a kid, I had a kind of mental avatar of the Middle Ages, and it involved a book covered in cabochon gems. I didn't know that was Ottonian, but the picture is still in there.
What an awesome illumination and enjoyable read! Very interesting points regarding St. Luke being placed in the mandorla. I love the investigation into such mysterious symbolism that you do. I had never heard of the Ottonian Renaissance before but would love to learn more about that time. It just goes to show you how terms like “Middle Ages” or “Medieval” or especially “Dark Ages” are such misnomers for widely disparate and dynamic cultural periods.
It is amazing how rich and variegated the art of the medieval period is!
And Amelia I also learn reading from your saints days and you help me pray
What a stunning illustration, and a gorgeous book. The effort that went into a book like that is remarkable and hard for us to imagine now when books are mass-produced. As others have commented, this definitely makes one want to visit Reichenau!
Wonderful!! Thank you!!!
This is absolutely gorgeous
I agree!
Wonderful thanks for this! I grew up with a picture of Kells on the wall, and I love this time and place in history ever since that silly book by M. Baigent et al. And 'The Secret of Kells' seems so incongruous in the modern canon, doesn't it.
It does! When I was thinking of/researching precedents for the “wild” style, Kells was really the only thing that came to mind.
Thank you Amelia. Illuminated manuscripts are such a blessed gift from the Christians if the past. Viewing the Book of Kells and other manuscripts at Trinity College in Dublin was an important step in my spiritual journey!
They really are so incredibly rich in artistry, symbolism and typology. That sounds amazing! I would love to see the Book of Kells someday.
They display just one page a day, or at least that’s how it was when I was there. My husband loves to put on this show called Cheap Irish Homes. It’s kind of cool, kind of torture. Hopefully we will return someday and see one more page! 😂
I guess that’s a way to keep the book together…and to keep people coming back. I think if I lived there I would go every day!
Wonderful! That front cover of the Gospels of Otto III -- what a great thing.
I love reading Hilary White and it shows me the way the beautiful reveals God. as a teacher, I have always mainly relied on words to know more about God —I’m so glad that there are now multiple sources revealing that our heritage goes further back than carpeted churches and burlap hangings of scripture (I’m a boomer and remember the immediate change of post Vatican 2 vividly
It really is a tragedy how much iconoclasm occurred during this period.
Wild-eyed indeed, what a marvellous image! I love the acanthus leaves but in truth the whole thing is delightful and very thought-provoking.
Thank you! I love the columns too… It is very unique and really confronts you.
this post may have altered my weekend plans. i wanna see this island. your posts are so well done. thanks!
Thanks Stephen! I want to see the island too! Sadly a lot of the original churches were destroyed, but the the big abbey church of Saint George is there.
I feel like I'm in a race with you guys. I've got Ottonian pencilled in for early November. At some point we're going to have to start working together just so we don't end up constantly repeating each other's work.
Yeah, we really should. I don’t have any more Ottonian planned at least for the next couple of months. I love the Ottonian though. It’s one of my favorite periods. I’m excited for your posts on it. I’m sure they’ll be much more comprehensive than the page I’ve about written here.
When I was a kid, I had a kind of mental avatar of the Middle Ages, and it involved a book covered in cabochon gems. I didn't know that was Ottonian, but the picture is still in there.
I’m working out my rough schedule for the next couple of months this week. I’ll send it to you when I finish.