Mosaner Psalter-Fragment

Vollstandige Faksimile-Ausgabe Im Originalformat Des Codex 78 A 6.

The Mosa Psalter Fragment is a sumptuous manuscript richly embellished with gold, which comprises an illustrated cycle with scenes from both the Old and the New Testaments. Experts consider this fragment to be the introduction to a psalter telling the story of the Bible in pictures. The individual miniatures are merely accompanied by brief thematic indications, so-called "tituli", as well as by some cartouches containing direct speech, recalling our modern comic strips. The magnificent illustrations were made by anonymous masters and are valued as highlights of Romanesque book illumination. The combination of different techniques – pen drawing and opaque color painting – enchants the beholder with its very special charm. The miniatures show landscapes and architecture applied in rich colors and glittering gold as well as lively moving figures that convey a realistic impression of the biblical narrative. This fragment of a Romanesque picture Bible cycle is extremely important in terms of theology, iconography, and history of style. Some compositional elements of the miniatures show late classical, paleo-Christian patterns of Italy as well as influences from the Carolingian and Ottonian traditions.