LANGUAGE: LATIN

DATE: 1450

PAGE #: 753

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 7.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: "BIBLE OF THE RATISBON DOMINICAN ORDER" IS A MANUSCRIPT CONTAINING THE BOOKS OF THE PROPHETS, PLUS OTHER BIBLICAL TEXT, WHICH FORMS THE SECOND VOLUME OF A BIBLE FORMERLY IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DOMINICAN ORDER AT RATISBON (REGENSBURG). IT CONTAINS EXTRAORDINARY MINIATURES, BY THE NOTED GERMAN RENAISSANCE PAINTER BERTHOLD FURTMEYR (ACTIVE 1460–1501). FURTMEYR AND HIS FOLLOWERS WERE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ANCIENT RATISBON SCHOOL OF ILLUMINATION. AN ARTIST OF GREAT RENOWN, FURTMEYR ILLUMINATED MANY IMPRESSIVE WORKS, INCLUDING THIS MANUSCRIPT, THE FURTMEYR BIBLE, THE SALZBURG FEAST MISSAL IN FIVE VOLUMES (ALL NOW AT THE BAVARIAN STATE LIBRARY IN MUNICH, GERMANY), AND MANY OTHER WORKS. THE ARTIST SHOWS HIS MASTERY OF THE DIFFICULT TASK OF SUCCESSFULLY COMBINING PICTURES, ORNAMENT, AND TEXT WITH GREAT AUTHORITY. FURTMEYR IS FAMOUS FOR HIS HANDLING OF COLORS, HIS BRIGHTLY SHINING ILLUMINATIONS, AND THE EXTREME DILIGENCE THAT MARKS HIS CRAFTSMANSHIP. ALTHOUGH HE WAS STILL DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE MIDDLE AGES, HIS LOVE OF COLOR, NOCTURNAL SCENES, AND FEMALE NUDES MARK A TRANSITION TO THE RENAISSANCE.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: THE HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH TWO PIECES OF REAL WOOD ON THE INSIDE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NEW YORK STATE. THE GLUE WE USE TO ATTACH THE LEATHER TO THE WOOD IS MADE AT OUR FACILITY, AND IS A PERIOD CORRECT WHEAT GLUE. ALONG THE SPINE, WE USE A MODERN PERFECT BINDING, WITH MODERN GLUE, TO MAKE THE BINDING LAST LONGER. WE ALSO ADD THREE LAYERS OF MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE PERFECT BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT.