Customer Reviews

Illuminated Prophet Books: A Study of Byzantine Manuscripts of the Major and Minor Prophets

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Besides the 128 pages of text, the volume contains over 100 pages of very nice black and white (eight in color) facsimiles of the manuscripts discussed, the photos are on glossy paper and of excellent quality.

Lowden dispalys a fine acumen here in presenting these manuscripts to the reader. The main text focuses on about seven Illuminated Greek Prophet books. Additionally he comments upon and shows images of about 20 others.

This group of MSS, "Byzantine Illuminated Prophet Books" form a small but homogeneous group. None are dated, but all are a product of the Byzantine scriptoriums and scribes.

Lowden cogently discusses the relevant iconography of each MS, and reveals many interesting features. Lowden focuses upon the visual artwork much more so than he does upon the scripts. As a palaeographer, I do wish that he had spent more time with analysis of the scripts, and perhaps more "textual criticism" of the actual written contents.

This is a fine reference work displaying scribal and illuminator talents of the (circa) 10th century in or around the Byzantine empire, with a focus upon the art (illuminations and miniatures) aspects and relationships.

The volume is well made, sturdy and is smyth sewn. The type is clear and properly leaded for ease of reading.

It has an index, and a catalogue of the MSS (with ruling charts). It has good footnotes and fine bibliographic data. Recommended for study of: Byzantine Book Illumination, 10th century scribal practices, and for general information on the Biblical texts of this group of MSS. Lowden's penetrationg analyses are very educational and he is a good writer.