The Vienna Genesis : Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment / Christa Hofmann.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hofmann, Christa., Editor.

Contributor:

Hofmann, Christa, editor.

Standardized Title:

Vienna Genesis (Hofmann).

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wiener Genesis (Biblical manuscript).

Bible. Genesis--Manuscripts, Greek.

Bible.

Manuscripts--Conservation and restoration.

Manuscripts.

Manuscripts--Conservation and restoration--Austria--Vienna.

Parchment--Conservation and restoration.

Parchment.

Ink--Byzantine Empire.

Ink.

Illumination of books and manuscripts, Early Christian--Turkey--Antioch.

Illumination of books and manuscripts, Early Christian.

Illumination of books and manuscripts, Byzantine--Turkey--Antioch.

Illumination of books and manuscripts, Byzantine.

Physical Description:

346 pages : illustrations (chiefly color)

Place of Publication:

Böhlau 2020

[s.l.] : Böhlau, 2020.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Vienna Genesis (Austrian National Library, Codex Theologicus graecus 31) is a fragmentary Greek manuscript of the Book of Genesis written on purple dyed parchment with silver ink. It is assumed that the book was created in the first half of the 6th century in the Near East. 24 folios with 48 miniatures have survived and have been stored at the Austrian National Library since 1664. The Vienna Genesis is famous for its rich cycle of biblical illuminations. The silver ink's degradation, which has resulted in extensive damage to the parchment, was already observed in the 17th century. In a three-year research project the parchment, the silver inks, the pigments and dyes were investigated. The detailed material analysis formed the base for conservation and preservation of the manuscript. The book describes the different studies of the project and their results: How was parchment made in Late Antiquity? How was parchment dyed purple? What is the purple dye of the Vienna Genesis? What is the composition of the silver ink and what are the causes of the severe damage? Which pigments were used by the different painters? How can the Vienna Genesis be best conserved for the future?

Contents:

Introduction / Christa Hofmann

The history of the Vienna Genesis and former interventions since 1664 / Christa Hofmann, Sophie Rabitsch

The parchment of the Vienna Genesis : characteristics and manufacture / Jiří Vnouček [and 5 others]

Purple dying of parchment / Sophie Rabitsch, Inge Boesken Kanold, Christa Hofmann

Identification of the purple dye on the Vienna Genesis / Maurizio Aceto [and 4 others]

The silver inks of the Vienna Genesis / Sophie Rabitsch [and 6 others]

Alteration study of silver inks on parchment / Sophie Rabitsch [and 4 others]

The miniatures of the Vienna Genesis : colour identification and painters' palettes / Christa Hofmann [and 8 others]

Conservation of the Vienna Genesis and the new storage system / Sophie Rabitsch, Christa Hofmann, Junko Sonderegger.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

CC BY

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9783205210580

3205210581

Access Restriction:

Unrestricted online access