File:A bibliographical, antiquarian and picturesque tour in France and Germany (1821) (14778939214).jpg

Identifier: bibliographicala02dibd (find matches)
Title: A bibliographical, antiquarian and picturesque tour in France and Germany
Year: 1821 (1820s)
Authors: Dibdin, Thomas Frognall, 1776-1847
Subjects: Libraries Libraries Bibliography Literary journeys Literary journeys
Publisher: London : Shakespeare Press
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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Text Appearing Before Image:
LES ECHECS AMOUREUX. Folio. No. 6808. The
title does not savour of any moral application to be
derived from the perusal of the work. Nevertheless,
there are portions of it which were evidently written
with this view — and, as I have no particular
for Miscellaneous subjects, you must een receive
this in its present place. Indeed it is so lovely, and I
had almost said so matchless, a volume, that you ought
to rejoice to have an account of it in any shape. On
the score of delicate, fresh, carefully-executed art,
this folio may challenge comparison with any simi-
lar treasure in the Bibliothèque du Roi. The sub-
jects are not crowded, nor minute; nor of a very
wonderful and intricate nature; but they are quietly
composed, softly executed, and are, at this present mo-
ment, in a state of preservation perfectly beautiful and

210 THE ROYAL LIBRARY.

entire. Let a portion of the first illumination—form-
ing t\ie frontispiece of the MS.—speak for itself in the
subjoined fac-simile : the performance of Mr. Lewis.
The colouring of the womans countenance is quite
perfect: but you must condemn the Gothic taste of
making the head too large for the shoulders and body,
while the latter is decidedly of a very meagre cast.
Text Appearing After Image:

T.Fry sculpsit.

ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS. 211

From the arms beneath, we perceive that this vo-
lume once belonged to a Dauphin of France; pro-
bably to Charles VIII. The second illumination dis-
plays two women, with distaves : with Death in the
back-ground:—as fresh and perfect as if the artist
had just bestowed upon it his final touches. A little
onward we have a most extraordinary representation
of the story of Saturn and Coelus. The finish of the
woman's countenance is absolutely surprising. To
the right, is a figure of Saturn devouring his chil-
dren. The fourth illumination exhibits a finely
coloured head and drapery of a Monarch on his
throne, striking a man dead with a feathered dart.
The fifth subject displays three naked women dan-
cing round a tree ; with a man having a bow and
arrow, and a harp, to the right. We have, sixthly,
an admirably executed subject of a man in a chariot,
drawn by a white horse. His countenance is full of
ardour. He has a helmet upon his head, and carries
a flail over his right shoulder.

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