Comments on: Catherine of Cleves prayerbook available online

By: Andrew White

Andrew White — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:24:14 +0000

I recently purchased a nicely bound copy of prints of the illuminations of the Catherine of Cleves prayer book.

One thing that is lacking in both the book I have and the one online (a great find, by the way!) is that little is said about all of the rich symbolism found in the images and their borders. From what I understand there is so much stuffed away in these images that educate on the Faith and the times it was made. Does anyone know where there has been a thorough analysis of the illuminations to document and explain all of the medieval symbolism present?

By: Karl Liam Saur

Karl Liam Saur — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:14:26 +0000

Lovely detail (switch to zoom view if you want to zoom in) of insects:

http://www.themorgan.org/collections/works/cleves/manuscriptEnlarge.asp?page=103

By: kbelcher

kbelcher — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:51:38 +0000

Cody, how lucky you are to have seen this masterwork in person! And please, everybody stop calling me Professor. I don’t even let the grad students do that.

By: William Henry

William Henry — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:49:54 +0000

Yes, thank you, Prof. Belcher. These illuminations are stunning. Cannot cite the exact page, but the one featuring “Mass of the Blessed Sacrament” with the “Last Supper” illumination is, at least for the moment, my favorite.

Thanks, too, Pray Tell!

By: Cody C. Unterseher

Cody C. Unterseher — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:29:37 +0000

During the two years I spent studying at General Seminary in New York (2007-2009), I more than once visited the Morgan Library precisely to examine the prayerbook of Catherine of Cleves. It is truly a wonder to behold, and I am glad to know that the illuminations are now online. Thank you for posting this, Prof. Belcher!