St. Gallen and its artists, however, must not be permitted to monopolise
our attention too long. The reader must for the rest refer to Dr. Rahn
and the writers whom he quotes. Sometimes it is said that the
illuminations of the eleventh century are proofs of the rapid decline of
art, and to demonstrate the fact that they are frankly hideous, some
writers bring forward instances such as the miniatures of a Missal,
especially a Crucifixion, said to be at Paris,[22] and a MS. at Berlin
said to have been executed in the earlier days of the Franconian dynasty
(1034-1125) containing another Crucifixion, which, though not quite so
horrible as the one just referred to, is sufficiently bad. These
miniatures are irredeemably barbaric and not in any sense typical of the
age. Such examples, in fact, can be found in any age and in any country.
Were they really representative of the best art of the time, there might
be an excuse for their reproduction, but they are not, and therefore no
reliance can be placed on their evidence.
[22] _Le Livre, etc._, par M.P. Louisy, Paris, 1886, 8°, p. 79.
In the miniatures of MSS. executed for the Othos and Henrys of the early
Saxon dynasty the worst they can be charged with, as compared with the
periods before and after them, is slavish imitation.
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