31-08-2024, 01:40 PM
(30-08-2024, 10:50 PM)pfeaster wrote: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.And here's a quick thought experiment. It's the year 2124, and a dozen disbound leaves from the VMS have just turned up in some overlooked corner of Athanasius Kircher's papers. None of us here on this forum are still alive to greet the discovery, but Lisa's writings about the VMS are still available and well known. Would a layperson of average abilities be able to take her written "key" to the five hands and use it to identify (correctly and confidently) which scribe had written each of the newly discovered leaves? If not, what would the main obstacles be?
It's a good thought experiment. I think another trained paleographer would need to be brought in.
Let's imagine a similar scenario in a different field, one further removed from our personal sphere of interest. A sealed 16th century crypt is discovered, containing a dozen unknown paintings in the style of various masters. To determine the authorship of the paintings, would you even consider asking for the opinion of an amateur, or would you go straight to professional specialist?