Erik Nitsche (Swiss, 1908 - 1998) "Pansy - Manuscript Illumination" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Illustration Board.
Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the Germany 120 + 60pf Medieval Manuscript Illumination stamp issued October 15, 1985. During the Middle Ages, the medieval mind delighted in ornate and colorful art. And nowhere is this love more evident than in medieval manuscripts, for they are alive with intricate and colorful drawings created in the margins and at the beginnings of chapters by patient monks working by hand. Known as illuminations, these miniature works of art virtually illuminate the pages of the ancient manuscripts with their bright colors and intricate designs. But beyond their beauty, the illuminations also mark an important milestone in history, for their disappearance -- with the invention of printing -- signified the end of an antiquated age and became a strong signal of the coming of modern culture. Illumination reached its highest form in the 14th and 15th centuries, when pages were decorated with gold, silver and all the colors of the rainbow. Indeed, the gray parchment was lighted with floriated letters, margins filled with leaves and branches and scenes from the painter's own life. Through their works, the illuminators imbued the written page with a beauty and attractiveness beyond the powers of a mere scribe alone. Since many of the illuminated manuscripts were religious in nature, the figures illuminated often had religious significance. Together, all the colorful flora and fauna pictured in the medieval manuscript offer praise to God from a dedicated and pious monk.
Image Size: 12 x 14 in.
Overall Size: 15 x 20 in.
Unframed.
(B09824)
Condition
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