Imperial Splendor: The Art of the Book in the Holy Roman Empire, 800-1500

by Jeffrey F. Hamburger, Joshua O'Driscoll

Overview

Focusing on production and patronage, this new volume features over 150 images of magnificently illustrated books and precious bindings, drawn largely from North American collections. The book’s three sections are arranged chronologically, yet in each case with a different thematic focus. Opening with a look at the precedents set by the Carolingian forerunners of the Empire, the first section considers deluxe imperial manuscripts associated with the Ottonian emperors. The second section examines the role of imperial monasteries in the production of manuscripts, considering in particular the patronage of aristocratic elites. The final section offers a tour of imperial cities in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, from Vienna and Prague to Augsburg and Nuremberg. This final stop considers the impact of Albrecht Dürer and humanism on the arts of the book. The volume features a glossary, indexes, and maps showing the shifting borders of the Empire over 700 years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781911282860
Publisher:	D Giles Limited
Publication date:	11/23/2021
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 11.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Jeffrey F. Hamburger is Kuno Francke Professor of German Art & Culture at Harvard University. Joshua O’Driscoll is assistant curator in the department of Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts at The Morgan Library & Museum, New York.

Table of Contents

Director’s Foreword by Colin B. Bailey; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; I Introduction; II Imperial Networks; III Imperial Monasteries; IV Imperial Cities; The Main Imperial Dynasties; Glossary; Bibliography; Index of Objects; General Index; Credits

Editorial Reviews

"It is a densely and richly illustrated narrative." "This well-produced book will become a useful resource."—William J. Diebold, The Burlington Magazine

"Joins the authors’ meticulous historical analysis with more than 150 lush, full-color illustrations of these magnificent books and their elaborate bindings."—Lauren Moya Ford, Hyperallergic

"Expertly combines cogent, insightful text with superlative illustrations."—Ed Voves, Art Eyewitness

From the Publisher