"Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere", illumination from the manuscript "Lancelot du Lac", ms. Royal 20 D IV, f. 1r, ca. 1360-1380, British Library, London. This illumination portrays King Arthur engaged in conversation with his barons,…
World Prematurity Day has been observed worldwide on 17 November since 2011. Its aim is to raise awareness of preterm birth and the concerns of preterm babies and their families. The idea behind WPD was born in…
"Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi", single illuminated leaf from a dispersed "Legenda aurea" manuscript, 1994.516, ca. 1320–42, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. This rich illumination depicts four scenes from the…
Facsimile of the opening historiated page from Alfonso V of Aragon's copy of the "Divina Commedia", ms. Yates Thompson 36, f. 1r, between 1444 and c. 1450, British Library, London. The historiated initial, a capital…
Ugly, melancholic, unlucky in love. Maddalena, Lorenzo the Magnificent's favorite daughter, did not enjoy a very happy life. Yet she could find her comfort: she was actually the owner of one of the most precious illuminated manuscripts of her time and, in the last…
The Libro delle Sorti is one of the most fascinating divination games of the Renaissance.This exciting “board game” – we even roll the dice, so it is hard not to call it that – was…