{"id":8877,"date":"2020-03-06T12:13:30","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T11:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.facsimilefinder.com\/articles\/?p=8877"},"modified":"2021-02-15T18:26:54","modified_gmt":"2021-02-15T17:26:54","slug":"just-released-romanesque-illumination-now-available-facsimile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.facsimilefinder.com\/articles\/just-released-romanesque-illumination-now-available-facsimile\/","title":{"rendered":"Just Announced: A Jewel of Romanesque Illumination, Now Available in Facsimile"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Brandenburger<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Christmas Day, 1120, the itinerant preacher Norbert of Xanten<\/strong> assembled thirteen disciples in a valley<\/strong> in north-eastern France known as Pr\u00e9montr\u00e9<\/strong>. His followers, who practiced asceticism<\/strong> in huts made of clay and wood, became the first members of the Premonstratensian Order<\/strong>. In a few years the Order of Canons Regular of Pr\u00e9montr\u00e9 grew enough for Pope\u00a0Honorius II<\/strong> to approve its constitution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Brandenburger<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Although Saint Norbert<\/strong> passed away less than fifteen years later, his order, which still counts around 1300 members<\/strong> worldwide, contributed to inspiring the development of Christian art and culture. In 1210, a stunning Romanesque illuminated manuscript<\/a><\/strong> was made in Magdeburg<\/strong> for the Brandenburg Premonstratensian Cathedral Abbey<\/strong>, where it remained for the last eight centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, to celebrate the 900th anniversary<\/strong> of the foundation of the Premonstratensian Order<\/strong>, the Swiss publishing house Quaternio Verlag Luzern<\/strong> gave new life to this jewel of German Romanesque<\/strong> book painting by producing a high-quality facsimile<\/strong> that art scholars and enthusiasts will be able to freely access for the first time in history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rich full-page miniatures<\/strong> and Italianate historiated initials<\/strong>, which inspired spiritual contemplation<\/strong> for centuries, have found their way out of the imposing church that kept them safe for so long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But who are the the heroes<\/strong> behind this fascinating transition?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quaternio Verlag’s success lies in a close-knit\u00a0team\u00a0of\u00a0professionals<\/strong> led by Gunter Tampe<\/strong>, whom we were happy to interview<\/strong><\/a> a few years back. Gunter works side-by-side with Karl Perstling,<\/strong> who spent the last two decades roaming the world in search for the perfect conditions to turn renowned, historical documents into almost-identical replicas<\/strong>. Avoiding to hamper even one millimeter of the original manuscript is just one of the thousand challenges<\/strong> he faces every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Karl<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is in the toolbox<\/strong> of a master of photography<\/strong>, printer<\/strong>, and graphic designer<\/strong> who works for a renowned facsimile publishing house?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To forge a facsimile<\/strong> of the Brandenburg Evangeliary<\/strong>, Karl used the same instruments as always: a multi-shot camera<\/strong>, washi<\/em> (traditional Japanese paper<\/strong>), a “vacuum cleaner<\/strong>“, and laser beam<\/strong>. The “vacuum cleaner” keeps the folios in place, the laser beam ensures that they hold the right position<\/strong>, and the Japanese paper protects<\/strong> the parchment from the aspiration system, while also assuring that the images of the next folios do not filter through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n