A Prayer-book in the British Museum
(Add. 17525), though far inferior, may give some idea of the sumptuous
character of the Glockendon work.
The first Archbishop of Prag, Arnestus or Ernest von Pardubitz, was an
industrious collector of MSS. and employed many scribes. Another of the
famous patrons in Prag was Gerhard Groot, who employed one of the best
penmen to copy St. John Chrysostom's _Commentary on St. Matthew_. In
1383 he founded at Deventer the famous House of the Brothers of the
Common Life, who made a business of transcribing books; and, indeed, so
profitably, that, for instance, Ian van Enkhuisen of Zwolle received
five hundred golden gulden for a Bible. On account of the goose-quill
which the brothers wore in their hats, they were familiarly known as the
Brethren of the Pen.[49]
[49] Wattenbach, _Schriftwesen im Mittelalter_, p. 264.
CHAPTER VIII
NETHERLANDISH ILLUMINATION
What is meant by the Netherlands--Early realism and study of
nature--Combination of symbolism with imitation--Anachronism in
design--The value of the pictorial methods of the old illuminators--The
oldest Netherlandish MS.--Harlinda and Renilda--The nunnery at
Maas-Eyck--Description of the MS.--Thomas ? Kempis--The school of
Zwolle--Character of the work--The use of green landscape
backgrounds--The Dukes of Burgundy--Netherlandish artists--No miniatures
of the Van Eycks or Memling known to exist--Schools of Bruges, Ghent,
Li?ge, etc.
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