Illuminated Mss. (Denmark)

I have been trying to restrain myself on the illuminated manuscripts front.  Just because I go ape over them doesn't mean that everyone does.   But enough is enough.  Let's do a few. 

It turns out that there are a number of medieval manuscripts online at the Royal Library of Denmark site.   I have selected a mere five as presenting, in my opinion, the finest script and illuminations.    TIP:  Upon arriving at the introductory page of each manuscript, use the links in the left margin to navigate from one large part to another.

These three contain only script and occasional colored initials, but they are still quite handsome:

Passion of St Edmund, ca. 1075, England

Life of St Anselm of Canterbury; ca. 1200, France

Life of St Bernard of Clairvaux; ca. 1200, France 

These two, in contrast, are highly illuminated:

Gospels, ca. 1250, Germany

Psalter, 1500-1535, Flanders  (Check out the section on the seven deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, sloth).)

Bonus:  These two are not quite as good, but they are too interesting and enjoyable not to make note of them:

Gospels, ca. 1150, Sweden

Antiphonary, 1250-1275, Norway

Comments

[Amanda M]

Thank you for something I find quite beautiful and wonderfully engaging, especially the expressions on the faces of the people and peculiar creatures. The carefully drawn animals, plants, birds, butterflies, snails, and caterpillars are delightful with their emotionally satisfying saturated colors. Interesting to be unable to read the calligraphy but to be able to "read" the pictures, as if the colored drawings are the words, and the words are the decoration.

[Ciara]

Amanda, thank you for your sensitive and insightful comments. I think you saw these much as the early illuminated manuscripts were intended to be seen by unlettered believers!