Illuminations, masterpieces at the Louvre Museum in Paris

Illuminations used to decorate manuscripts the way today, photographs illustrate our books.

Over several centuries, decorative patterns, figurative scenes and dropped capital letters brought to life with bold colours were delicately painted by the illuminators on the parchments or treated animal skins in preparation for the writing. These images were occasionally embellished with gold or silver.

From the 17th Century, illuminations began to be appreciated for their artistic value and became highly collectable.

As a result many works were pulled apart and these illuminations were turned into small pictures. The Louvre Museum has built up a little known collection by gathering these magnificent pages over the years.

The Louvre will be displaying a beautiful selection from this collection until October 10 2011. On show will be seventy Italian, French, Dutch and German illuminations originating from historical, literary or liturgical manuscripts dating from the 11th to 16th Centuries.

You will discover true masterpieces created by Jean Fouquet, Lorenzo Monaco, Guillaume Vrelant and many others.

Presentation of the exhibition: Medieval and Renaissance Illuminations – Louvre Auditorium

Pier Luigi Mulas, Assistant Professor from the University of Clermond Ferrand II will present this exhibition on September 16 at 12.30 pm at the Louvre Auditorium, Paris. By reservation only.

Louvre Museum, Paris - Medieval and Renaissance Illuminations Exhibition:

• Detailed information: exhibition
• Presentation of the exhibition (in French): Louvre Auditorium.

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