It is often difficult for me find time to go to art exhibitions these
days, so to go to one twice is quite unusual.
I visited ‘Colour,
the Art and Science of Illuminated Manuscripts’, the current show at the
Fitzwilliam Museum, when I was on a course in Cambridge some weeks ago. I was so taken by it that I wanted my husband
Nick to enjoy it too. Accordingly we
visited together last week, and I enjoyed it just as much, finding many things
that I had not noticed before.
A special exhibition to mark the bicentenary of the museum
this year, ‘Colour’ displays some 150
examples of the illuminator’s art from the 9th to 17th
centuries. Modern analytical techniques
now make it possible to know more about these works. A section of the
exhibition looking into the science of this adds an additional dimension to appreciation
of the works on show. The exhibition
also explores the origin of colours, and much can be learned about the
authenticity and date of a manuscript by sampling the pigments.
Many interesting stories lie behind the manuscripts, almost
all of which are ecclesiastical in origin.
The highly decorated personal Books of Hours of the mediaeval
aristocracy were particularly striking, evoking the concerns of the original
owners about their souls while they reflected their worldly wealth!
You can get a taste of the exhibition from the Fitzwilliam’s
website Here.. However, the show goes on until
December and if you can make it to Cambridge this autumn a couple of hours
spent looking at these ancient marvels would be time well spent.
 |
| Detail from the 'The Pabenham-Clifford Hours' England c. 1315 |
No comments:
Post a Comment