Description
The elaboration of the miniatures of this singular codex took place in the Benedictine Abbey of San Bertín, center of wisdom and knowledge of the France of century XIII. A codex connected with the Crusades and the Templars.
In the year 1200 a miniature of its own was developed, independent and original style, of great quality, creating new formulas in the chapter of devotional and private book.
Although the master who illustrates the pages of this codex is unknown, the beautiful miniatures that illuminate it are framed within the so-called French style 1200, characterized by using gold backgrounds of Byzantine influence, vivid colors and flat figures, while maintaining some Of the conventions typical of the Romanesque. Some scholars point out that probably the 45 miniature pages that decorate this codex were originally intended to illustrate the preamble of a psalter; Hence a clear influence of the English psalters, although the reason for which it was not finally carried out is unknown.
Each mini-page is divided into four scenes that describe Old and New Testament stories, as well as accounts of the life and martyrdom of the saints. A total of 172 colored scenes on gold and silver backgrounds represent the cycle of Salvation, which begins with Adam and Eve in the earthly paradise and ends with the final judgment.
Note in folio 1v. A map of Jerusalem, of great beauty and uniqueness. Everything indicates that this map was incorporated much later to the set of the work.
The text that accompanies the miniatures was included after the elaboration of these. Throughout the thirteenth century, the manuscript went through several hands and were added texts in Latin and French. This has motivated that some specialists have hesitated when putting a concrete title to the codex, proposing “Of Hebraeis et Christianis Chronicon” like the most correct. This fact, together with the originality of its miniatures, makes of this codex a unique copy.
A beautiful binding (dated in the 18th century) in green velvet safeguards the pages of this codex. The brooches that have it are carved with a double Greek cross.
The clear Byzantine influence of the illuminations, as well as the reproaches and the complaints against the court of Rome in connection with the Second Crusade, which appear on the first page as well as the last, suggest some specialists and also their last possessor, Joseph Désiré Lupus, that this codex was made for the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comneno, nicknamed “The Great” and famous for his charisma and his passion for the West. It allowed the passage through its dominions of two armies of the Second Crusade. Although Byzantine troops tried to control the behavior of the Crusaders, there were many violent clashes between Franks and Greeks that were about to precipitate an open conflict between the Emperor Manuel I and the Crusaders.
This manuscript was part of the private collection of Joseph Désiré Lupus (1766-1822) until 1819, the date on which King William I acquired it. In 1823 it becomes part of the funds of the National Library of the Netherlands, where it is currently conserved.
Exquisite and beautiful edition made in 2011 of the original dated at the end of the 12th century and currently preserved in the Royal Library of The Hague, ms. KB 76 F5. Written in Latin and French.
Edition limited to 695 copies, numbered and notarized.
Facsimile bound in green velvet with silver brooches, format 18.5 x 27.8 cm. 46 folios (92 pages) with 45 pages luxurious and beautifully minted.
Presented in a soft box-case format 21.5 x 32 x 6.8 cm.
Accompanied by the corresponding study book, bound in hardcover with illustrated cover, guide tape. Format 25.2 x 31.8 cm.
Exemplary in perfect condition.
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