Once upon a time only dukes, popes, and princesses could hold a priceless artifact like the Prayer Book of Anne de Bretagne in their hands. Today, facsimiles allow you to leaf through them — well, at least virtually! So what are you waiting for?
An art scholar recently called it the rock star of medieval manuscript illumination. The story of this manuscript is so thrilling we couldn’t resist asking ourselves some questions — we also imagined the manuscript’s answers.
Once upon a time only dukes, popes, and princesses could hold a priceless artifact like the Sketchbook of Francesco di Giorgio Martini in their hands. Today, facsimiles allow you to leaf through them — well, at least virtually! So what are you waiting for?
It is hard to tell who Aesop really was, but hundreds of generations have read his Fables. And in 15th-century Italy, a group of prominent painters illustrated many of his tales in a lavish manuscript.
Which illuminator gave life to Charles V’s military achievements through painting? An Alumina article sheds new light on a collection of 16th-century parchment leaves kept in the British Library.
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!
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.
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!
Why did Cristoforo de Predis use 15th-century Milan architecture as a backdrop for religious scenes? The answer goes deep into the human mind.
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!