The making of the Bibles moralisaees /

Lowden sets new standards for medieval illuminated manuscript analysis. Volume 1 contains a detailed study of the histories of seven surviving Bibles Moralisees, as well as an exhaustive codicological examination of them. Dating from the early 13th to the late 15th century, they were personal copies made for French kings, queens, and their close relatives. Volume 2 investigates a single book of the Bible Moralisee--the Book of Ruth--and brilliantly discusses medieval biblical art and biblical exegesis. These Bibles represent the richest and most complete attempt at medieval biblical illustration. Each page has four biblical images and four moralized images arranged in two columns and accompanied by biblical text and moralized text. These large-format volumes both impress and instruct. Lowden diligently examines previous research into these much-neglected images and convincingly rejects the theory of a perfect Latin model or lost archetype. He shows that the pairing of a biblical image with a moralization appears to have no precise precedent in Christian art. One can heartily applaud the author's modest remark that his work will have achieved its purpose if it renews examination and discussion of the subject. Graduate students; faculty and researchers. J. Gutmann; emeritus, Wayne State University