Wandalgarius' Letters of the Law: Figural Initials and Book Culture in the Late Eighth Century

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Long sidelined by art historians, the Wandalgarius Codex is a compendium of legal texts dated to 793 that represents an early venture in a trend associated with the 790s: populating initial letters with lively figures. This article centers the Wandalgarius Codex in discussion of experimental book illumination in the late eighth century. The decade saw re-definition of the visual organization of books, the uses illumination could serve, and the ways manuscripts in many genres reflected and shaped projects of education and reform. The essay sets Wandalgarius' approach to initials in conversation with the well-known Gellone Sacramentary, and investigates the scribe-draftsman's characterization of his own work as an ambitious contemporary book-maker.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)291-324
Number of pages34
JournalZeitschrift für Kunstgeschichte
Volume84
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Visual Arts and Performing Arts

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Wandalgarius' Letters of the Law: Figural Initials and Book Culture in the Late Eighth Century'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this