Symbols and Signs: Decoding Medieval Manuscripts
Names Written in Superimposed Letters in Model Book of Calligraphy (detail), 1561-62, George Bocskay. Watercolors, gold and silver paint, and ink. Getty Museum, Ms. 20 (86.MV.527), fol. 90
Explore the mysterious world of medieval codes through manuscripts. Learn about the clever configurations of textual and visual elements that medieval scribes and artists deliberately and playfully employed to arrest the attention of readers and engage their minds in deciphering divine and worldly secrets. Intricately interwoven letters, puzzling monograms, cryptic symbols, and more await to be decoded.
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Selected Works
Names Written in Superimposed Letters from Model Book of Calligraphy
1561–62, George Bocskay. Watercolors, gold and silver paint, and ink on parchment. Getty Museum, Ms. 20 (86.MV.527), fol. 90
Decorated Incipit Page from Psalter
German, about 1240–1250. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and silver leaf on parchment. Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig VIII 2 (83.MK.93), fol.12
Decorated Text Page from Rothschild Pentateuch
French or German,1296. Tempera colors, gold, and ink on parchment. Getty Museum. Acquired with the generous support of Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder, Ms. 116 (2018.43), fol. 486v
Text Page with Monograms, from Gospel Book
German, about 826–838. Tempera colors on parchment. Getty Museum,Ms. Ludwig II 1, (83.MB.65), fol. 3v
The Pietà, from Book of Hours
about 1460, Italian. Tempera colors, gold, and ink on parchment. Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig IX 12 (83.ML.108), fol. 352v
Canon Table Page from Gospel Book
1615, Mesrop of Khizan. Tempera colors, gold paint, and gold leaf on glazed paper. Getty Museum, Ms. Ludwig II 7 (83.MB.71), fol. 10
Lunar Sentence I (Maquette)
1978, Leandro Katz. Gelatin silver print. Getty Museum. Purchased with funds provided by the Photographs Council. © Leandro Katz
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