Dan Brown managed to fanagle the world into being obsessed with the painting known as La Gioconda or the Mona Lisa through his thriller novel The Da Vinci Code. I first perused this early 16th century portrait as a 19-year-old, more than half a century ago, when it was a painting on the wall in the Louvre along with a number of others. No protective glass, security guards, line-ups, or selfies.
The Mona Lisa was considered a masterpiece then, as now so maybe it's not surprising that an illustrated bible from roughly the same era has been described as the "Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts." It is a catchy way of emphasizing the beauty of this work, although to my mind it is comparing apples and oranges.
The "illuminations" are the exquisitely painted illustrations in bibles and breviaries and books of hours that were often created to demonstrate the wealth of the donor or owner with a little piety thrown in. In many cases they were created in monasteries and convents by nuns and monks who were skilled scribes and artisans. Their work was an act of devotion and a source of income for communities of faith.
.Here is a description of a display of the Borso D"Este Bible during this Vatican Jubilee Year in Italy and the Vatican:
A 15th-century Bible which is considered one of the most spectacular examples of Renaissance illuminated manuscripts went on display in Rome on Thursday as part of the Vatican's Holy Year celebrations.
The two-volume Borso D'Este Bible, which is known for its opulent miniature paintings in gold and Afghan lapis lazuli, was unveiled in the Italian Senate, where it will remain on display until Jan. 16.
The Bible is usually kept in a safe at a library in Modena and is rarely seen in public. It was transported to Rome under heavy security and its arrival in the Senate was televised, as workers hauled two big red crates from an unmarked van and then extracted the volumes, which were covered in bubble wrap.
The Bible, commissioned by Duke Borso D'Este, was created between 1455 and 1461 by calligrapher Pietro Paolo Marone and illustrators Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi. The Italian Culture Ministry considers it one of the highest expressions of miniature art "that unites sacred value, historic relevance, precious materials and refined aesthetics."
It will remain behind humidity-controlled plate glass during its Roman sojourn, but visitors can "read" it digitally via touch screen displays featuring ultra-high-resolution images.
Alessandra Necci, director of Gallerie Estense in Modena, where the Bible is usually kept, describes it as the "Mona Lisa of illuminated manuscripts" because of its exquisite artistry and religious inspiration.
I am fascinated by illustrated bibles whether ancient (Book of Kells) or modern (St. John's Bible.) It's wonderful that the Borso D'Este Bible will be shared with the world, at least for a time. Perhaps the Mona Lisa is the Borso D'Este of portraiture.
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