New York, The Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.710

Berthold Sacramentary Facsimile Edition

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12,500

approx US$ 13,615


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Only a small number of manuscripts stand out among the best codices of the medieval era, one of them being the Berthold Sacramentary. Commissioned by Abbot Berthold, possibly just after the 1215 fire that severely damaged the monastery library, the Sacramentary is a true gem of the late Romanesque period.

The Berthold Sacramentary: an Astounding Wealth of Illuminations

The Berthold Sacramentary's 165 parchment folios include an astounding wealth of illuminations: twenty-one full-page depictions, seven historical-themed illustrations, six full-length, twelve half-length and fifty-two smaller decorative initials, eighteen figural initials, and twelve calendar plates.

Not only are these miniatures numerous, but their quality and craftsmanship is also truly unparalleled. The artist who painted them, who is anonymous and was named by scholars 'The Berthold master,' was decidedly ahead of his time: his miniatures display strong and dramatic narrative depictions, new plasticity achieved by 'playing' with color, and great artistic mastery.

Precious Gold and Silver in an Incredible Decorative Cycle

Each illumination, but also many of the initials, are set against gold and silver backgrounds, something that boosts the brightness of the colors used by the artist. Nevertheless, such opulent use of gold and silver is not the only amazing feature of the decoration of the Berthold Sacramentary: the manuscript is further enriched by thirty-two miniatures and initials on burnished golden backgrounds.

Also, six depictions bear golden backgrounds that were also decorated with elevated relief, an incredibly difficut technique. The Berthold master used such luxurious technique when he illustrated the main feast days in the Church year. The book's text was penned by three different scribes, their calligraphic mastery fitting the absolute perfection of the decorative cycle.

We have 1 facsimile edition of the manuscript "Berthold Sacramentary": Das Berthold-Sakramentar facsimile edition, published by Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA), 1995

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Manuscript book description compiled by the publisher.
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Das Berthold-Sakramentar

Graz: Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA), 1995

+ 2

Das Berthold-Sakramentar, New York, The Morgan Library & Museum, Ms M. 710, Facsimile edition by ADEVA, 1995
Facsimile edition by ADEVA, 1995

+ 2

Das Berthold-Sakramentar, New York, The Morgan Library & Museum, Ms M. 710, Facsimile edition by ADEVA, 1995
Facsimile edition by ADEVA, 1995

+ 2

Das Berthold-Sakramentar, New York, The Morgan Library & Museum, Ms M. 710, Facsimile edition by ADEVA, 1995
Facsimile edition by ADEVA, 1995
  • Commentary (German) by Heinzer, Felix; Rudolf, Hans Ulrich
  • Limited Edition: 280 copies
  • Full-size color reproduction of the entire original document, Berthold Sacramentary: the facsimile attempts to replicate the look-and-feel and physical features of the original document; pages are trimmed according to the original format; the binding might not be consistent with the current document binding.

Facsimile edition in a protective case. The commentary volume (288 pp.) explains all miniatures in great detail while also dealing with their historic and art historic context.

Binding

Genuine leather embellished with silver ornamental bands.

Used and new from

€ 12,500

approx US$ 13,615


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