1409-1502 (printed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Metalcut was one of the earliest techniques used for printing images in books. A relief process, it involved cutting and punching into soft metal such as lead, most likely the same metal as was used to print text. The process was used around 1500 for printing the lavish French books of hours, which imitated the look of illuminated manuscripts. In this book of hours, however, the decorative borders combining classical Renaissance styles with Northern gothic styles make a feature of the black and white medium, instead of being printed outlines intended to take hand colouring. The dark dotted pattern (manière criblée) of the background is typical of the effects achieved using the metalcut technique.
The borders, were constructed of different smaller sections which were set into the forme along with the type. This allowed them to be mixed and matched throughout the book to vary the decorations and make them appear unique from one page to the next, as with hand drawn decorations in manuscripts. Here, the hunt scene and the chevron patterned pillar were each repeated twice on different pages. Printing was still an expensive process so having smaller blocks that could be mix and matched was cost effective.
The borders, were constructed of different smaller sections which were set into the forme along with the type. This allowed them to be mixed and matched throughout the book to vary the decorations and make them appear unique from one page to the next, as with hand drawn decorations in manuscripts. Here, the hunt scene and the chevron patterned pillar were each repeated twice on different pages. Printing was still an expensive process so having smaller blocks that could be mix and matched was cost effective.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Metalcut and hand-colouring on vellum |
| Brief description | Metalcut, with some hand-colouring. Printed by Thielman Kerver. Page from a printed book of hours, printed in Paris, 1498-1502. |
| Physical description | Leaf from a printed book of hours. The leaf is constructed from separate page ornaments and printed images margins, with hand rubrication applied to one letter and red and gold. One side of the page begins with the text for the Hours of the Virgin III for Matins(?) 'Dabit ei Dominus Deus sedem David patris eius..' and ends with an instruction- 'Et nota quod nichil mutat i'. Three illustrations feature Michael and his angels in battle against the dragon (Revelation 12:7-9). The other ornaments include leaf and floral elements and geometric patterns and a column decorated with diaper and chevron patterns and acanthus. The text on the other side begins with a continuation of an instruction- 'matutinis: sed dicuntur omnia ad longum sicut sunt notata...' and ends with the antiphon 'Mirabile mysterium declaratur hodie innovantur naturae Deus homo factus est id quod fuit permansit et quod non erat assumpsit'. Ornaments include a panel to the left of Italianate decoration against a dotted background of dragons, pedestal and vases, a quatrfoil-shaped frame with profile of two heads, and grotesque masks in suns, all joined together by scrolling leaf and floral ornaments. A panel below with a dotted background with two dragons breathing fire and scrolling leaf forms. The other ornaments and column is also decorated with leaf forms and geometric pattern. |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Holy Bible: New Testament: Revelation: 12:7-9 |
| Summary | Metalcut was one of the earliest techniques used for printing images in books. A relief process, it involved cutting and punching into soft metal such as lead, most likely the same metal as was used to print text. The process was used around 1500 for printing the lavish French books of hours, which imitated the look of illuminated manuscripts. In this book of hours, however, the decorative borders combining classical Renaissance styles with Northern gothic styles make a feature of the black and white medium, instead of being printed outlines intended to take hand colouring. The dark dotted pattern (manière criblée) of the background is typical of the effects achieved using the metalcut technique. The borders, were constructed of different smaller sections which were set into the forme along with the type. This allowed them to be mixed and matched throughout the book to vary the decorations and make them appear unique from one page to the next, as with hand drawn decorations in manuscripts. Here, the hunt scene and the chevron patterned pillar were each repeated twice on different pages. Printing was still an expensive process so having smaller blocks that could be mix and matched was cost effective. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 29151:3 |
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| Record created | June 30, 2009 |
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