Comments on: Scans of medieval and renaissance manuscripts

Scans of medieval and renaissance manuscripts

Kattullus — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:06:45 -0800

Columbia University's Digital Scriptorium is a database of high quality scans from medieval and renaissance manuscripts. The highlights section alone is breathtaking, but you can search and browse through over 5000 manuscripts and almost 25000 individual images.

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:11:19 -0800

There's tons of stuff to be found. While idly browsing through their Boethius listings, I found this beautiful version of The Consolations of Philosophy.

By: everichon

everichon — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:31:17 -0800

Fantastic! Bonus points if anyone can tell me what these things that look like the ends of guitars are supposed to be; juggling clubs? With jingle bells?

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:31:25 -0800

"Opening historiated initial, with grotesques; somewhat damaged." Not unlike a MeFi thread then! Lovely stuff, Katullus.

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:32:38 -0800

I think you're right about the juggling clubs there everichon. With bells on.

By: everichon

everichon — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:40:14 -0800

So cool.

By: resurrexit

resurrexit — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:40:24 -0800

I guess something good came of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries AMIRITE.

By: pantufla

pantufla — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:47:45 -0800

Great post, thanks !

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:49:43 -0800

They had amazingly modern rulers in mediaeval times, and metric too!

By: jonson

jonson — Sat, 03 May 2008 10:50:59 -0800

Thanks, Kattullus, this is neat. Only wish there were more illuminations

By: bibliowench

bibliowench — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:40:55 -0800

Thanks for posting this. My husband and I worked on selecting and describing the manuscripts from Harry Ransom Center way back in 1999-2000. The experience spoiled me for all future library work - I never had as much fun* as I did working on this project. *Library-related, that is.

By: stagewhisper

stagewhisper — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:43:02 -0800

Thanks! Great find, Kattullus!

By: languagehat

languagehat — Sat, 03 May 2008 11:52:30 -0800

Magnifique!

By: Busithoth

Busithoth — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:37:14 -0800

thank you, sire!

By: winna

winna — Sat, 03 May 2008 16:26:07 -0800

Your posts are always fantastic, Kattullus. These are so beautiful. It is just sad that neither St Foy nor St Guinefort are represented. It is kind of neat to see that greyhounds begged by staring intensely in the olden days, just as they do now.

By: redteam

redteam — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:56:21 -0800

This is lovely. That said, I can't wait to see these manuscripts used to create images like these.