On the history of Illuminated Manuscripts and their Facsimiles
A Renaissance Exhibition in Book-Form
Ever dreamed of hosting a Renaissance exhibition in your living-room? With the new facsimile by Quaternio Verlag, unveiled at the Frankfurt Book Fair, you can!
A Poet and a Patron Bring Ancient Astrology Back to Life
When we discovered the connection between a 15th-century astrology manuscript and a nearby humanist church, we wanted to see it for ourselves. Follow us on a trip to Renaissance Rimini!
A Peek Into Ottonian Splendor: The Bamberg Apocalypse
Between the 10th and 11th centuries, Germany became the center of European book illumination due to the brightly colored surfaces, sumptuous gold, and spiritual intensity of its manuscripts. Scroll down to see the video!
On the Footsteps of an Ottoman Sultan
Are you ready to travel five centuries back in time? Pack your walking shoes, open our interactive map, and let's follow the Ottoman troops in 16th-century Baghdad, Tabriz, and Aleppo. Scroll down to see the video!
Poems in Bloom: Unraveling a Sultan’s Quest for Love
Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent was not just a powerful statesman, but also a sensitive and emotional poet: in the Muhibbî Dîvânı manuscript, his verses are encased within an intricate artwork made of 370 different flower and plant patterns. Scroll down to see the video!
Istanbul Through the Eyes of an Ottoman Miniaturist
If you ever wondered what Constantinople looked like in the 16th century, check out this Ottoman-era manuscript, as kaleidoscopic as the city itself. You can even compare past and present with our interactive map!
Fashion Stylists in Miniature
If you think you have already seen the strangest outfits in the world, check out these medieval clothes and accessories, some of which were considered "inventions of the devil" by the Church.
The Jewel in the Crown
King Martin I of Aragon (1356-1410) was so fond of art he supported the creation of paintings and manuscripts even in periods of financial distress. This Alumina article tells us more about his breviary, an exquisite example of international Gothic style.
Discovering the Art of Micrography
A little (medieval) fiesta never killed nobody: follow us for a trip into the Catalan Mahzor, a unique prayer book from the second quarter of the fourteenth century. Spoiler alert: contains stunning micrographies.
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. Scroll down to see the video!
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.
