Four Remarkable Manuscripts from the Middle Ages, Les Enluminures - New York

Les Enluminures will present a special exhibition and catalogue at Les Enluminures New York from October 17 to 23, 2018. It consists of four books that are remarkable survivals of what people read in the Middle Ages - the finest of medieval Bibles (the greatest text of Western civilization), one of the oldest Books of Hours (the most famous medieval manuscripts of all), biography (the unique legend of an Anglo-Saxon princess), and the history of Troy (the oldest chivalric story in European history).

These are all manuscripts unknown on the market for at least eighty years. One of the four was last described in print in 1588; the others were last catalogued for sale in 1909, 1932 and 1938 respectively. All are richly illustrated, with a total of 133 miniatures between them, as well as hundreds of borders and illuminated animals and grotesques. Some of the finest artists of the period were responsible for the miniatures, and at least two of them likely issue directly from the greatest of European courts. A lavishly illustrated publication accompanies the exhibition. Prize-winning author ("Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts") Christopher de Hamel wrote the Introduction and Catalogue. Founder and President of Les Enluminures, Sandra Hindman is responsible for the Preface.