CHAPTER XIV
OTHONIAN ILLUMINATION
Departure from Carolingian--Bird and serpent--Common use of dracontine
forms in letter-ornament--Influence of metal-work on the forms of
scroll-ornament--The vine-stem and its developments--Introduction of
Greek taste and fashion into Germany--Cistercian illumination--The
Othonian period--Influence of women as patronesses and
practitioners--German princesses--The Empress Adelheid of Burgundy--The
Empress Theophano--Henry II. and the Empress
Cunegunda--Bamberg--Examples of Othonian art.
Perhaps the first departure towards a new style arising out of the
elements of Carolingian illumination is in the combination of the bird
and serpent used for letter forms and continued into coils of vine-stem
and foliage in combination with golden panelled frames or pilasters. The
monsters thus produced seem to be a revival of the dracontine forms of
the semi-barbarous Celtic and early Frankish arts. But the difference in
elegance and refinement of drawing and beauty of colouring is very great
indeed. Other animal forms are also made use of, nor is the human figure
altogether absent. Sometimes entire letters are made up of the latter in
various attitudes. Little scenes illustrative of the subject which the
initial commences are often placed within it, as, for instance, in the B
of the first psalm.
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