Austrian and German illuminated mss. ca. 1410-1500

In the meantime research of the holdings of the Department of Manuscripts at the Austrian National Library has advanced to the later Middle Ages; in the project being proposed it is planned to process the objects not yet included from the second half of the 15th century of Austria that originated on the soil of Central Europe. The main focus will be on codices produced in Germany and Austria, just as it was in earlier projects. To the investigation of manuscripts there will be added in this phase of the development the incunabula, of which a large number contain book decorations relevant for a catalogue with an orientation to the history of art. Analogous to the method of procedure in the volumes in this series that have already appeared, in the case we will deal only with those that were not printed and have a handmade decoration that is more than just application of colour. The work on incunabula will support the possibility of ordering and classifying the manuscripts, since the original prints are often dated or datable and the place of publication, which is also often known, gives us clues on the genesis of the décor. In the project it is also planned to bring to completion the cataloguing work begun in preliminary project P 14403- ARS; Austrian and German illuminated manuscripts, ca. 1410-1450). In view of the huge amount of material the descriptions will be spread over two double volumes (with texts and with plates). Those catalogues will be brought to the ready-to-print stage during the project and the printing, which we expect to be done in the same time span, will be taken care of. In another research project (P 14347-G06) running parallel to this one the manuscripts of eastern Central Europe (mainly codices that originated in Bohemia) will be described. That simultaneous work is particularly desirable because there are many related features in the manuscripts of the two projects. Finally mention must be made of a further addition to the processing of gothic illuminated manuscripts in Austria: a project also set in the Institute of the History of Art of the University of Vienna aimed at developing the codices of the library of the University of Graz (P 15189). Good cooperation between all of those research projects guarantees a comprehensive and scholarly development that goes beyond the work on the individual holdings. It will ensure Austria a continuing preeminence in that area.

In the meantime research of the holdings of the Department of Manuscripts at the Austrian National Library has advanced to the later Middle Ages; in the project being proposed it is planned to process the objects not yet included from the second half of the 15th century of Austria that originated on the soil of Central Europe. The main focus will be on codices produced in Germany and Austria, just as it was in earlier projects. To the investigation of manuscripts there will be added in this phase of the development the incunabula, of which a large number contain book decorations relevant for a catalogue with an orientation to the history of art. Analogous to the method of procedure in the volumes in this series that have already appeared, in the case we will deal only with those that were not printed and have a handmade decoration that is more than just application of colour. The work on incunabula will support the possibility of ordering and classifying the manuscripts, since the original prints are often dated or datable and the place of publication, which is also often known, gives us clues on the genesis of the décor. In the project it is also planned to bring to completion the cataloguing work begun in preliminary project P 14403- ARS; Austrian and German illuminated manuscripts, ca. 1410-1450). In view of the huge amount of material the descriptions will be spread over two double volumes (with texts and with plates). Those catalogues will be brought to the ready-to-print stage during the project and the printing, which we expect to be done in the same time span, will be taken care of. In another research project (P 14347-G06) running parallel to this one the manuscripts of eastern Central Europe (mainly codices that originated in Bohemia) will be described. That simultaneous work is particularly desirable because there are many related features in the manuscripts of the two projects. Finally mention must be made of a further addition to the processing of gothic illuminated manuscripts in Austria: a project also set in the Institute of the History of Art of the University of Vienna aimed at developing the codices of the library of the University of Graz (P 15189). Good cooperation between all of those research projects guarantees a comprehensive and scholarly development that goes beyond the work on the individual holdings. It will ensure Austria a continuing preeminence in that area.