Mira calligraphiae monumenta : a sixteenth-century calligraphic manuscript inscribed by Georg Bocskay and illuminated by Joris Hoefnagel /

In 1986, the J. Paul Getty Museum acquired an unusual, late manuscript that showcased myriad forms of calligraphy. The manuscript was written by the virtuoso scribe Georg Bocskay in 1561--62 for Emperor Ferdinand I; 30 years later it was illuminated--by Hoefnagel for Ferdinand's grandson, Rudolf II--with trompe l'oeil renderings of plants, insects, and other small animals. The book is visually dazzling, and clearly meant for the aesthetic delight of its royal patrons. The Getty published a beautiful facsimile of the manuscript in 1992 (CH, Jan'93, 30-2473), with useful introductory essays. The museum has now reissued the volume, but aside from a brief acknowledgment of subsequent scholarly investigations in the preface, the text has not been updated. There is a slight improvement in the quality of the photographic reproduction of the manuscript, but not enough to warrant replacement of the earlier version. Those who do not own the 1992 edition will find the book of interest, particularly as a resource for graphic design, calligraphy, and art history in general. Summing Up: Recommended. With the above proviso. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals. --Julia I. Miller, emerita, California State University, Long Beach