08-04-2018, 07:05 PM
Arsenal 147, I know that one. A beautiful thing. Very expertly done.
I've also glanced through Reg.lat.124 (I've always been intrigued by manuscripts with acrostics), but even though one can easily see the relationship between the two, I don't think I ever connected them in my mind... perhaps because there are a number of manuscripts with acrostics that were on my "come back to them later" list.
They provide an intriguing example of how much leeway there was in copying. I notice the illustrators have updated the clothing from Greco-Roman to more contemporary tunics, the background to the full -page acrostic from navy to royal purple. The angels in the quadrant acrostic become more elfin and colorful.
Very interesting piece of history and detective work, René. It helps round out the picture of how things happened during that time. It also suggests a quality orientation on the part of Rudolph II, to commission a work of that level.
I've also glanced through Reg.lat.124 (I've always been intrigued by manuscripts with acrostics), but even though one can easily see the relationship between the two, I don't think I ever connected them in my mind... perhaps because there are a number of manuscripts with acrostics that were on my "come back to them later" list.
They provide an intriguing example of how much leeway there was in copying. I notice the illustrators have updated the clothing from Greco-Roman to more contemporary tunics, the background to the full -page acrostic from navy to royal purple. The angels in the quadrant acrostic become more elfin and colorful.
Very interesting piece of history and detective work, René. It helps round out the picture of how things happened during that time. It also suggests a quality orientation on the part of Rudolph II, to commission a work of that level.