An Abecedarium: Illuminated Alphabets from the Court of Emperor Rudolf II

by Lee Hendrix and Thea Vignau-Wilberg

Book Overview

Included in the magnificent pages of the Mira calligraphiae monumenta are two alphabets. Executed by an unknown hand, the first consists of Roman capital letters; the other is Gothic lower-case letters. As with the calligraphy of Bocskay described above, these alphabets were embellished by Joris Hoefnagel, a painter at the court of Rudolf II. In embellishing the alphabets, Hoefnagel employed symbols and heraldic objects--masks, animals, plants, obelisks--to...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0892364718
• ISBN13: 9780892364718
• Release Date: July 1997
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 64 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Art in this book not as gorgeous as in the other two.

There are 3 in this set of matching books. The other two are superb in their art choices. This one is also very pleasing. It concentrates on calligraphy letters just as is shown on the front cover. The book contains similar prints but for the other letters of the alphabet in capitals and small case. That is all that is contained in this book. So it is a matter of personal preferences if you want a book with nothing but this. I bought it to complete my set and am very happy with it, but if I had to do without one of the three, it would be this one without a doubt. I like this book a lot, but I truly adore the other 2: NATURE ILLUMINATED (my favorite) and THE ART OF THE PEN.

Enchanting Eye-Catcher

I happened upon this true gem of a book at The Getty, while on a trip to Los Angeles, and simply had to have it. Anyone with an appreciation for words and letters and the challenge of combining them as perfectly as possible, will love this! It is a constant delight and one with which I gift special friends.