THE APOCALYPSE OF 1313 + APOCALYPSE 1313 + APOCALIPSIS DE 1313 Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris Signed and dated in 1313 by its illuminator, Colin Chadelve, this Apocalypse is a unique creation apparently designed to cater for its patrons demanding requirements. The images in this manuscript are extraordinary in terms of both their abundance and the quality of their pictorial technique. This codex features the longest iconographic cycle of the Book of Revelation of the entire Middle Ages. The radiant colours, contrasting gold hues and lavish illustrations of the Apocalypse and Hell also transform this codex into a unique treasure. Todays privileged readers can observe the merciless punishments meted out to the damned in Hell thanks to the wealth of details in the artists representations of the most horrific and surprising tortures: sinners being flayed, sawn in half, beaten on anvils, cast into cauldrons of boiling water or oil, having their eyes poked out with chisels and tongs... This manuscript differs from other codices depicting Hell, with its horrors and torments, as just another feature: here the artist lays great emphasis on it, giving free rein to his imagination. The miniatures, homogenous in style throughout the manuscript, are brought alive by a remarkably dramatic force produced by the gestures of the figures, the liveliness of the scenes, the great colour range and the lavish use of gold. This Apocalypse is also exceptional because, having very few traces of the Parisian style, it is a rare item amongst the French manuscripts of the early 14th century. Indeed, this Apocalypse is apparently an unusual adaptation of a very popular English Gothic type of book: an extraordinary one of a kind in textual and iconographic terms. The artist of this manuscript manages to orchestrate four levels of interpretation in a coherent and unprecedented manner. He succeeds in combining the text of the Revelation and the traditional iconographic models and commentaries with his own perception of these texts, thereby giving rise to new meanings. Experts agree that the Apocalypse of 1313 constitutes an important shift in the Gothic concept of illustrated Apocalypse codices towards a more personal and private prayer book to be used for innermost contemplation and meditation. - Shelfmark: Fr. 13096 - Size: ± 220 x 155 mm - Date: 1313 - 334 pages, 162 miniatures (86 full-page illustrations) illuminated with gold - Full-colour accompanying volume of studies by: Marie-Thérèse Gousset and Marianne Besseyre Unique and unrepeatable first edition, strictly limited to 987 numbered and authenticated copies LIMITED TIME OFFER: Order it in February an SAVE UP TO 20%. bit.ly/Price_Apocalypse
Posted on: Sun, 02 Feb 2014 09:03:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015