Die illuminierten Handschriften der Universitätsbibliothek Graz 1225‒1300

Manuscripts are among the most complex testimonies of the Middle Ages and are invaluable sources that provide important information both about their respective era and their significance for the present.

This volume is based on the in-depth scholarly analysis of 86 illuminated manuscripts and fragments originating from secularized monasteries in Styria, Carinthia, and Slovenia, now housed in the Graz University Library.

The works, created between 1225 and 1300, were evaluated from an art-historical perspective and placed in their historical, cultural, and intellectual context. It was determined that many manuscripts were imported from major book production centers in Europe, such as Bologna, Paris, or southern France, and that only relatively few works were created in the local monasteries from which they were handed down. The publication thus offers important insights into the internationality of book culture in the 13th century.

The catalog's structure follows the format of previously published publications in this series: an introductory section is followed by descriptions of the objects, addressing their materiality (codicology, binding, provenance) and content. The main section, which is primarily focused on art history, characterizes book decoration and provides a stylistic analysis. A comprehensive volume of plates illustrates and supports the arguments presented in the text, as well as a detailed index and bibliography, complete the catalog.