On the history of Illuminated Manuscripts and their Facsimiles
The Golden Word
With its 60 pages of illuminated art, and over 500 initials, the Codex Aureus of Echternach is a true gem of the Ottonian era. This Alumina article unveils its history.
Quaternio’s Vienna Genesis: A Step Closer to the Original 6th-Century Jem
We wanted to know how Quaternio Verlag was able to reproduce the century-old folios of the Vienna Genesis down to the smallest detail. What we found out exceeds our expectations.
Pumpkins, Fire Pits and Unicorns: A Renaissance Bible and Its Symbols
When the Duke of Modena, Borso d'Este, commissioned a lavish, two-volume bible to be illuminated by the best artists of his age, he had a specific political purpose in mind.
The Discovery of Love
Music is ethereal, but manuscripts go down in history. Volumes such as the Codex Manesse have preserved the texts of thousands of Medieval courtly songs. Find out more in today's Alumina article!
Apocalypsis Johannis: A Renaissance Comic Book?
The events described in the Book of Revelation cannot be compared to the adventures of Superman, but clerics at the end of the 1400s had surely found a way to make sacred Christian writings appealing to a very wide audience.
Practicing Imaginative Meditation at the Sforza Court
Why did Cristoforo de Predis use 15th-century Milan architecture as a backdrop for religious scenes? The answer goes deep into the human mind.
A Beacon of Culture
If you are a book lover, you cannot miss this Alumina article about the Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel, whose vast collection has remained untouched for over four hundred years.
A Forever-Shining Gem of the German Romanesque Period
After eight and a half centuries this liturgical book, profusely decorated with shimmering gold and silver, is almost untouched by time. A new facsimile edition by Quaternio Verlag Luzern takes us closer to the perfection of its Romanesque illuminations.
The Jewel of Renaissance Lombardy
Did you know that the illuminator of this precious book of hours helped Leonardo da Vinci paint the Virgin of the Rocks? Find out more in today's Alumina article!
Under Dürer’s star
A fan of German book illumination? Don't miss this Alumina article about Nikolaus Glockendon, one of the foremost artists of his time.
A Journey Through the Underworld in Forty-nine Illuminations
Not only does this splendidly decorated manuscript contain forty-nine illuminations created under the guidance of Pacino di Bonaguida. It also features commentaries by illustrious contemporary intellectuals, among which is a poem attributed to Boccaccio.
The Renaissance of Leonardo, Five Hundred Years Later
If you are a Leonardo enthusiast, 2019 is the perfect year to unravel the mysteries surrounding his genius. To mark the 500th anniversary since his death, museums and venues all over the world are celebrating his work with dozens of events and exhibitions. Here is a selection of our favorites.
The Star of the Renaissance, Isabella d’Este Gonzaga
Today's Alumina Article deepens the figure of Isabella d’Este Gonzaga, the Reinassance princess legendary for her art collection and education.
Illuminating the future: the Vaticinia Pontificum of London
Enjoy this Alumina article about the Vaticinia Pontificum! Produced in the 1430s, the Vaticinia Pontificum is generally considered one of the most enduring works of propaganda connected to the Papacy.
The Vyšehrad Codex: a milestone in the history of the Czech Republic
The Vysehrad Codex is a Latin coronation Gospel Book, considered the most critical and valuable manuscript kept in Bohemia. It is a unique testimony of the Romanesque time and the oldest document related to the Czech environment.
