The Decorated Letter
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Condition: Good. Jacket: No dust jacket - card cover in good condition with minor wear. Page Condition: Good. Markings: No markings visible. Binding: Intact. No stickers or labels visible.
A landmark study in the history of medieval manuscript art, The Decorated Letter presents a comprehensive examination of the ornamental initial letters that illuminate some of the most celebrated manuscripts of the Western tradition. J.J.G. Alexander, one of the foremost authorities on medieval illuminated manuscripts, chronicles the evolution of decorated letterforms from Late Antiquity through the Gothic period, tracing the stylistic and iconographic transformations across centuries and geographic regions. The work details the intricate interplay between text and image, arguing that these embellished initials were not mere decoration but integral vehicles of meaning, theological commentary, and artistic ambition. Drawing on examples from major European scriptoria, Alexander illustrates how monastic and court artists pushed the boundaries of calligraphy and painting within the constraints of a single letter. Authoritative, richly illustrated, and meticulously researched, this volume remains an essential reference for scholars of medieval art, book history, and illuminated manuscripts.
Author: J.J.G. Alexander
Format: Paperback
Published: 1978, George Braziller
Genre: History of arts
Condition remarks:
Condition: Good. Jacket: No dust jacket - card cover in good condition with minor wear. Page Condition: Good. Markings: No markings visible. Binding: Intact. No stickers or labels visible.
A landmark study in the history of medieval manuscript art, The Decorated Letter presents a comprehensive examination of the ornamental initial letters that illuminate some of the most celebrated manuscripts of the Western tradition. J.J.G. Alexander, one of the foremost authorities on medieval illuminated manuscripts, chronicles the evolution of decorated letterforms from Late Antiquity through the Gothic period, tracing the stylistic and iconographic transformations across centuries and geographic regions. The work details the intricate interplay between text and image, arguing that these embellished initials were not mere decoration but integral vehicles of meaning, theological commentary, and artistic ambition. Drawing on examples from major European scriptoria, Alexander illustrates how monastic and court artists pushed the boundaries of calligraphy and painting within the constraints of a single letter. Authoritative, richly illustrated, and meticulously researched, this volume remains an essential reference for scholars of medieval art, book history, and illuminated manuscripts.