Hidden Treasures: Illuminated Manuscripts from Midwestern Collections | Page 6

Bibles
Bible Fragment,
in Latin
fig 9: Miniature of Pope
Boniface VIII Presiding
over the Sacred College,
late 14th century,
Nicolò di Giacomo,
Italian (Bologna), ca.
1325–1403, tempera and
gold on parchment,
University of Michigan
Museum of Art, Museum
Purchase, 1968/2.50

French (Tours), late 2nd
quarter of the 9th century

ten in compact Gothic script with heavily abbreviated
words. The large red and blue “puzzle” initial ‘E’ on
the left page opens Chapter 1 of the Book of Jonah,
and the similar initial ‘V’ on the right page signals the
Book of Micah.

Ink and tempera on parchment

Folio from a Bible
with Marginalia

Courtesy, the Lilly Library, Indiana
University, Bloomington, Poole 30

French, 14th century

This manuscript is written in Carolingian minuscule, the uniform, legible script championed by
Charlemagne. Clear letter spacing, distinct upper
and lower cases, and rounded letterforms gave this
script a decisive role in disseminating literacy and
classical texts throughout the Carolingian Empire.
This Bible fragment comes the Abbey of Saint
Maximin in Trier, Germany.

Ink, tempera, and gold on parchment
Loyola University Museum of Art, Martin
D’Arcy Collection, Gift of Mrs. John S. Millar,
1972-21
fig 1
Initial ‘M’ with
Hybrid Creatures
French, 13th century

Folio from a Bible
with Daniel in the
Lions’ Den Aided by the
Prophet Habakkuk
French (Cambrai), ca. 1290
Ink, tempera, and gold on parchment

fig 10: Initial ‘C’ from
a Choir Book with St.
Dominic Loricatus, ca.
1440, Olivetan Master
(Fra Girolamo da
Milano), Italian (Milan),
active 1429–1449,
tempera and gold on
parchment, Loyola
University Museum
of Art, Martin D’Arcy
Collection, Gift of Mr.
and Mrs. Chester D.
Tripp, 1975-19-02

University of Michigan Museum of Art,
Anonymous Gift in memory of Mrs. John
Alexander, 1993/2.10
This densely written manuscript page contains the
prologue and opening text of the Book of Daniel.
A miniature in the right column marks the Book’s
beginning. The prophet Habakkuk, held aloft
by an angel, offers a jug of water and a plate of
bread to Daniel in the lions’ den below.

Bible
French (Paris), 13th century
Ink and tempera on parchment
Department of Special Collections, Memorial
Library, University of Wisconsin–Madison, MS
255, fols. 164v–165
The turn of the thirteenth century saw a revolution in
Bible production in Paris. Portable one-volume Bibles
contained the whole standardized text, systematically
divided into the books and numbered chapters we
know today. Pocket Bibles were used by students,
parish priests, and preachers. This manuscript is writ-

Ink and tempera on parchment
Private Collection, Madison, Wisconsin
Miniature from Guyart
de Moulins, Bible Historiale,
with Christ Preaching to the
Apostles
Circle of the Master of the
Berry Apocalypse
French (Paris), active ca. 1405–1420
Tempera and gold on parchment
Thrivent Financial Collection of Religious Art,
92-11
This miniature was cut out of a deluxe manuscript of
the principal French translation of the Bible composed
between 1291 and 1295 by the priest and canon Guyart de Moulins. The text of the Bible Historiale also
contained a translation of the Historia Scholastica, a
Biblical paraphrase written for students by the twelfthcentury French theologian Peter Comestor.