COLOURFUL PAGES. Illuminated fragments from medieval manuscripts
Studio exhibition on the Renaissance, Baroque and Enlightenment
01.07.2026 - 31.01.2027 ,
Germanisches Nationalmuseum (Germanic National Museum)
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The GNM holds around 400 fragments of medieval manuscripts, making it one of the most significant collections in the German-speaking world. These consist of whole pages or cut-out, ornate initials dating from the 9th to the 15th century, used in liturgical books such as graduals, antiphonaries and missals, as well as in Bibles and hagiographies. They offer a fascinating insight into the diversity of medieval book art.
Following the 1789 Revolution in France, numerous medieval codices were
dismantled – an act of cultural ‘vandalism’. Although the leaves were torn from their original context, they continue to reveal their regional and thematic diversity. Research carried out in recent years has made it possible to partially reconstruct their original contexts. The intense colours, precise observation of nature and imaginative ornamentation lend the pages a special vitality. Although many were published as early as 1903, a comprehensive presentation has been lacking until now.
Please note: To protect the delicate originals, they will be replaced by other copies in early November 2026.
Last edited on 14.07.2026
