tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5204628968145671962.post8195380932404097174..comments2023-10-08T06:20:49.328-07:00Comments on Encounters with Medieval Manuscripts, Spring 2015: The Utrecht PsalterCarrie Beneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16693857186807966259noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5204628968145671962.post-44309048617658377662015-02-27T10:14:06.783-08:002015-02-27T10:14:06.783-08:00I truly enjoy the illustrations that are present i...I truly enjoy the illustrations that are present in the Utrecht Psalter. As Hannah mentioned, this manuscript is different from other manuscripts coming from this time period. I thought that heavy illustration equaled less value to what was written in the manuscript. However, the illuminations in the Psalter were used for the purpose of education, and thereby, present a new from of illumination. Prior to the Psalter, in my knowledge, illuminations were done for the purpose of uniqueness and beauty. The Psalter is unique and beautiful, but it represents a new age of illumination. I enjoy the artistic style of the illustration of the Old Testament presented next to the text of Psalms. I think it is quite interesting that historians are unable to say who inspired the artist, or perhaps, there was no influence. What if the artist thought illustrations should have a more to do with the text that is being printed than the person for which that text is being written? Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17194400229770095638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5204628968145671962.post-51822376544102247572015-02-27T08:54:27.499-08:002015-02-27T08:54:27.499-08:00It interests me how the additions were continuousl...It interests me how the additions were continuously added because for us the idea of the book or a codex is that it is produced and then that is the final product. This idea copies the same views of script and how in the medieval ages it was constantly evolving and changing. For us now, it is a static object that only hold differentiations betweens languages or someone's bad handwriting. Back then, there were differences between people's lifetimes and separate regions, and this ever evolving codex simply demonstrates their ideas of dynamic education and writing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5204628968145671962.post-38073729513006670402015-02-26T20:10:34.632-08:002015-02-26T20:10:34.632-08:00I think that it is interesting that the Utrecht Ps...I think that it is interesting that the Utrecht Psalter has such a large number of images- especially if it was commissioned for royalty. Images were usually used as reference for those that were illiterate. Charlemagne was a huge advocate of educational reform, if it was for his wife or young son maybe the manuscript was meant to supplement his family’s learning? I suppose this is why the manuscript is so heavily illuminated? Anyhow, the drawings are beautiful, as are the different colored inks that allow them to move; a couple of the images in this particular post remind me of illustrations from Where the Wild Things Are. In the last detail with the floating face, I do agree that it was added later, especially if the drawing isn’t in the correct style and is not necessary to the complete image. I am curious to know if it is possible to date the inks on the pages, to tell what portions of the texts were added later on. Perhaps such a technique would be too strenuous for the pages. Another interesting aspect of the Psalter is that it is named after the city where it currently rests. The means of it getting there aren’t exactly venerable, but I can appreciate that it was donated to the Utrecht University, where it could be properly maintained. I sympathize with Robert Cotton for losing this gem. Brittany Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01937669693057795869noreply@blogger.com