Landscape of Nature in Medieval French Manuscript Illumination

This volume shows in more detail than ever before the fascinating portrayals of the landscape of nature on French codices from the Middle Ages. The illuminations, the text, and the folio borders often constitute a work of high quality. From an early stylized portrayal of natural phenomena, this work moves on to a more realistic portrayal as reality rather than tradition and authority prevail, showing the gradual development of early landscape painting. As well as benefiting the medieval scholar, this volume will also delight those who love the outdoors, and may serve in addition as a guide for the visitor to museums and galleries. It will be of interest to historians for its representation of the background for historical events, and to the literary scholar. It discusses subjects such as the painting of trees, mountains, flowers, seas, etc. The Arthurian manuscripts disclose a distinct beauty of scenery in their pictorial representations. Calendars associated with prayer books are especially valuable. With many photographs.