One hundred and ten miniatures of uncommon
interest constitute the illustrations, many of which are perfect
curiosities of symbolism, depicting not only the four figures of the
evangelists, but the mysteries of the seals and vials, serpents, beasts,
etc., on yellow, red, green, blue, and brown backgrounds. The draperies
in some of the miniatures show Byzantine teaching, but with the
grandiose style of the early Roman times. The MS. it might be compared
with of the twelfth century is the "Hortus Deliciarum" of the Abbess
Herrade. This latter MS., which unfortunately was burnt with many other
treasures during the siege of Strassburg by the Germans in 1870, was a
veritable treasury of medi?val customs, furniture, and costumes,
illustrating a medley of encyclop?dic information for the use of the
nuns and secular students of the Abbey of Hohenburg in Alsace. The good
abbess called her book a "Garden of Delights."
It is known that it dated from 1159, as that date and also the date of
1175 occurred in its pages. We do not know whether the authoress was
also the illuminatrix, but at any rate she directed the illumination.
Their style is of the same type as that of the Apocalypse just spoken
of, somewhat monumental as figures of the Liberal Arts, allegorical
figures of the virtues and vices, and the syrens as symbols of sensual
temptation.
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