History of mediæval art . abil-ity, the desire to give expression to individualobservations and ideas being evident advance is noticeable in the Codex Aureusof the City Library of Treves, in that of Abbevillein Paris, and in the copy of the Evangelists fromSt. Medard in Soissons, in the same a still higher character are two codices whichwere probably written in Tours: the Vulgata inBamberg and the Bible of Alcuin in Zurich. Theformer, begun under Alcuin, the friend of the Em-peror, who died in 804 as abbot of St. Martin inTours, exhibits a marked development, which
History of mediæval art . abil-ity, the desire to give expression to individualobservations and ideas being evident advance is noticeable in the Codex Aureusof the City Library of Treves, in that of Abbevillein Paris, and in the copy of the Evangelists fromSt. Medard in Soissons, in the same a still higher character are two codices whichwere probably written in Tours: the Vulgata inBamberg and the Bible of Alcuin in Zurich. Theformer, begun under Alcuin, the friend of the Em-peror, who died in 804 as abbot of St. Martin inTours, exhibits a marked development, which may be referred to theinfluence of the magnificent buildings of Aix-la-Chapelle. The calli-graphic designs of the initials and borders of both are a systematicand tasteful combination of Celtic braided work with antique foliagesimilar to that employed in later times in the decorations of theRomanic style. In view of such works, it is not surprising that thesecretaries of the Emperor were chosen from among the illuminators. Fig. 132.—Initial IN,from the Evangelia-rium of Library ofParis. PAINTING. 247 of this cloister, and that the writing-school founded in Tours byAlcuin became of decisive influence throughout a vide circle. Localpeculiarities, however, were observable in various cloisters, St. Denis,for instance, chiefly cultivating the Irish style, while in Metz theprimitive Frankish methods continued to be practised and care taken by Charlemagne for the further development ofpainting at his court and in the chief cloisters of his realm resultedin so lasting an improvement that the miniatures of his successorswere superior even to those of his own time. This is evident fromthe codices of the emperors Lothaire and Charles the Bald. Inthese works the human figures are still inferior to the calligraphicornaments, but the independence of composition which had ap-peared during the reign of Charlemagne is so increased as to makeup for the many def
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublishernewyorkharperbros
