The National Library of Russia in St. Petersburg inherited the magnificent collection of medieval and Renaissance illustrated manuscripts originally in the imperial Library. Treasures from the National Library are reproduced in this unique volume, in all the brilliance of their original colour.
The collection includes missals and sacred texts, and a magnificent series of royal and princely manuscripts. There are also Renaissance manuscripts from England, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. The works embellished with illuminations include Bibles, books of hours, and other religious texts, as well as chronicles, herbals, and even works of fiction and poetry.
The detailed annotations and explanations give the provenance of each work and there is an extensive bibliography.
