The Vienna Genesis

Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment

Contributions by Maurizio Aceto Contributions by Angelo Agostino Contributions by Elisa Calà Contributions by Gaia Fenoglio Contributions by Rudolf Erlach Contributions by Sarah Fiddyment Contributions by Matthew Collins Contributions by Martina Grießer Contributions by Katharina Uhlir Contributions by Antonia Malissa Contributions by Sophie Rabitsch Contributions by Junko Sonderegger Contributions by Klaudia Hradil Contributions by Inge Boesken Kanold Contributions by Maria João Melo Contributions by Rita Araujo Contributions by Paula Nabais Contributions by Abigail Quandt Contributions by Jiri Vnoucek Edited by Christa Hofmann

Book cover: The Vienna Genesis

Extent: 348 pages

Publisher: Böhlau Verlag Wien

Subjects: Art & Art History, Biblical Studies, Medieval Studies

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(July 2020)

ISBN: 9783205210573

6.93 x 9.69 inches

Price: $94.00

In stock

The Vienna Genesis (Austrian National Library, Codex Theologicus graecus 31) is a fragmentary Greek manuscript of the Book of Genesis written on purple dyed parchment with silver ink. It is assumed that the book was created in the first half of the 6th century in the Near East. 24 folios with 48 miniatures have survived and have been stored at the Austrian National Library since 1664. The Vienna Genesis is famous for its rich cycle of biblical illuminations. The silver ink’s degradation, which has resulted in extensive damage to the parchment, was already observed in the 17th century. In a three-year research project the parchment, the silver inks, the pigments and dyes were investigated. The detailed material analysis formed the base for conservation and preservation of the manuscript. The book describes the different studies of the project and their results: How was parchment made in Late Antiquity? How was parchment dyed purple? What is the purple dye of the Vienna Genesis? What is the composition of the silver ink and what are the causes of the severe damage? Which pigments were used by the different painters? How can the Vienna Genesis be best conserved for the future?

  • Contributions by Maurizio Aceto
  • Contributions by Angelo Agostino
  • Contributions by Elisa Calà
  • Contributions by Gaia Fenoglio
  • Contributions by Rudolf Erlach
  • Contributions by Sarah Fiddyment
  • Contributions by Matthew Collins
  • Contributions by Martina Grießer
  • Contributions by Katharina Uhlir
  • Contributions by Antonia Malissa
  • Contributions by Sophie Rabitsch
  • Contributions by Junko Sonderegger
  • Contributions by Klaudia Hradil
  • Contributions by Inge Boesken Kanold
  • Contributions by Maria João Melo
  • Contributions by Rita Araujo
  • Contributions by Paula Nabais
  • Contributions by Abigail Quandt
  • Contributions by Jiri Vnoucek
  • Edited by Christa Hofmann