Volume II of the Oxford Medieval Texts edition provides a full historical introduction, a detailed textual commentary, and an extensive bibliography. It forms the essential complement to the text and translation which appeared in Volume I.
The development of "house styles" in script and decoration is traced, and so are the travels of the professional artists responsible for the adornment of de luxe books ordered by this and other houses in England and overseas; and last but ...
A group of MSS written at the Cathedral c.1100 is notable for its distinctive decoration. The Catalogue is preceded by a history of the Cathedral Library, based on the rich documentaryevidence, which includes two medieval catalogues.
Focusing on the ninth and twelfth centuries, this volume explores such material changes as well as the varying circumstances under which handwritten books were produced, used and collected.
The discussion of 'books' ranges from important individual manuscripts, to collections manufactured in 'scriptoria' and kept in 'libraries'; the 'learning' is primarily the composition, transmission and study of Latin literary texts, both ...
It is arguable that Master Hugh was the greatest artist of all those who worked on these books, working in a tradition developed at St Albans abbey and yet a great innovator, bringing a more naturalistic approach.