Revision of ROYAL: Illuminated Manuscripts of the Kings and Queens of England from Tue, 27/04/2010 - 11:22

Project start date: 2008-10

Project end date: 2011-09

The research project focuses on the Library's collection of medieval and Renaissance Royal illuminated manuscripts. The project, a collaboration with The Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, will culminate in a major exhibition at the British Library in 2011-2012; the research will become part of the British Library's free illustrated online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts (CIM); and will also support and deliver a virtual exhibition and online introductory 'tours' of the Royal collection for visitors to the British Library website. The collection comprises approximately 1,950 manuscripts from the royal library presented by King George II to the newly founded British Museum in 1757, from where they were transferred to the British Library. The manuscripts featured will include the French presentation copy of Philippe de Mézières's letter to Richard II; the Shrewsbury Book of romances presented to Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, as a gift for their marriage in 1445; and chronicles and histories produced in southern Netherlands for Edward IV. Approximately 400 illuminated manuscripts from the Royal collection have been selected for further study. Each will be examined to uncover details including patronage, information about the artist, scribe, and how it may have been received and used. This represents the first systematic analysis of narrative and decorative imagery in royal medieval manuscripts.