03 — ARTWORK
Bible of Borso d'Este
- MEDIUM
- Manuscript (Ms. VG 12 lat. 422-23), 375 x 265 mm (each)
- TYPE
- Religious
PALETTE
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- FILE
- 1067 × 750 px · JPEG
COMMENTARY
UNDERLINED TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE GLOSSARY.
Bible of Borso d'Este 1455-61 Manuscriptcollective term for books or other documents written by hand; in a specific sense, the hand-written medieval book, the Codex manuscriptus, often ornamented with decorative borders, illuminated initials and miniatures, and containing works of ancient philosophy or scholarly, ecclesiastical, and literary texts. Manuscripts were usually produced on commission. At first the scriptoria (writing rooms) of monasteries transcribed the contents of famous manuscripts and made copies. Monastic communities in the Netherlands and northern Germany began producing manuscripts around 1383/84. Flanders, Burgundy, and in particular Paris became major centres for the mass production of breviaries (prayer books) and Books of Hours. (Ms. VG 12 lat. 422-23), 375 x 265 mm (each) Biblioteca Estense, Modena
This deluxe illuminated Bible was commissioned by Borso d'Este (1413-1471), Duke of Ferrara, from Taddeo Crivelli who worked with his assistant Franco de' Russi. On the decoration of the manuscript worked some of the most famous illuminators of the time, such as Marco dell'Avogaro, Giorgio d'Alemagna and Girolamo da Cremona, as well as numerous lesser artists. The illustrations include numerous scenic miniatures, historiated initials, border friezes, architectural border motifs, heraldic rectangular fields and medallions.
The Bible was divided from the start into two volumes of 311 and 393 leaves: the first contains most of the Old Testament, the second the last part of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
The illustrations on three consecutive pages (folios 78r, 79v and 79r) show the variety and richness of the decoration. Within an extremely rich, yet compositionally well-structured decorative border, the first page presents the Explicit (the end of the Prologue), and the Incipit (the beginning), in this case the beginning of the book of Daniel. This is followed by the double-page illustration introducing the life and teachings of the prophet Daniel. Two medallions containing a figurative representation and an animal motif provide focal points.
CITE THIS RECORD — BIBTEX
@online{wga-rc8e42d68d2d96d,
author = {Krén, Emil and Marx, Daniel},
title = {Bible of Borso d'Este by MINIATURIST, Italian},
organization = {{Web Gallery of Art}},
date = {2026-09-13},
url = {https://beta.wga.hu/artists/miniaturist-italian-r027b070316d639/bible-of-borso-deste-rc8e42d68d2d96d},
urldate = {2026-09-13},
langid = {english}
}ACCESSED 2026-09-13. REPLACE THE AUTHOR FIELD WITH THE COMMENTARY AUTHOR WHERE ONE IS NAMED.
