Bibles and Bestiaries: A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts [Hardcover]

Elizabeth B. Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1994

"Using examples of illuminated manuscripts from the Pierpont Morgan Library as illustrations, Wilson describes how a book was crafted in the Middle Ages...Magnificent...The volume is as elegant and special as its subject."-Boxed review/Booklist

"A glorious book, both fascinating and gorgeously presented."-Pointer/Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Medieval manuscripts inspire Rosalyn Schanzer's illustrations of a 14th-century kingdom in Ezra's Quest: Follow That Dog. Readers, armed with the nifty purple crayon and bright pink eraser that come with the book, battle their way through a series of elaborate mazes to reunite Ezra with his kidnapped dog (Doubleday, $12.95, 32p, ages 4-9 ISBN 0-385-32262-3, Oct.).
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-This finely wrought volume illuminates the power of words and pictures on paper (or velum) to inform, to influence ideas, and to stir emotions. Using the extensive collection of manuscripts in the Pierpont Morgan Library, Wilson demonstrates the many ways that writers and artists recorded the major concerns of their day. Of special interest for modern minds is the impressive demonstration of the artistic importance of what, too often, is called the "minor art" of illuminated manuscripts. Using examples from Europe as well as Persian and Arabic works, the author shows the aesthetic content of the calligraphy, decorations, pictures, and their design. She makes a fine case for considering them major art objects. The 87 beautifully reproduced illuminations (mostly in color) have the quality of replicas, and they allow readers to respond to the details and to appreciate the ultimate craftsmanship of the frequently anonymous artisans. The text is brief and lucid, and the expanded captions supplement the flow of the narrative with informative, even amusing anecdotes. The author offers considerable insight into the relationship of text and illustration. This handsome title should help youngsters better value our legacy of manuscripts and their contemporary descendents-the picture book.
Kenneth Marantz, Art Education Department, Ohio State University, Columbus
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (October 31, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374306850
• ISBN-13: 978-0374306854
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 10.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #877,969 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining introduction to the book before printing, September 12, 2000

By 

Elise C. Boucher "merouda" (West Allis, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bibles and Bestiaries: A Guide to Illuminated Manuscripts (Hardcover)

This short book attempts to introduce the illuminated manuscript to young audiences. It's a quick read for adults. The information contained in the text is reasonable; just enough to introduce the huge differences between modern and medieval technology without going into overwhelming detail.

As an adult, I particularly enjoy the fine, color reproductions of illuminated pages, many of which are presented at actual size. I also enjoy the author's inclusions of examples of scribal errors; we are so accustomed in this day and age to the flawless reproduction of the computer era that it is nice to be reminded of the values of hand-production.

In all, it's a very nice book for young people, and a nice introduction for an adult wanting just a little information about manuscripts. If you collect books about illuminated manuscripts, as I do, it's worth getting, but if you want just one book for an adult reader looking for a broad, scholarly study of manuscripts, you'd be better off with de Hamel's "A History of Illuminated Manuscripts."