AUTHOR: ARTIST WILLIAM DE BRAILES

LANGUAGE: OLD FRENCH

DATE: 1250

PAGE #: 80

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.75 X 7.75 IN

HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS MANUSCRIPT COMPRISES 24 LEAVES OF BIBLE PICTURES BY WILLIAM DE BRAILES, AN ENGLISH ARTIST ACTIVE IN OXFORD DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE 13TH CENTURY. SEVEN LEAVES FROM THE SAME SET OF IMAGES ARE NOW IN THE MUSÉE MARMOTTAN IN PARIS. THESE 31 LEAVES ARE ALL THAT REMAIN OF AN IMAGE CYCLE THAT ONCE CONTAINED AT LEAST 98 MINIATURES, AND WHICH WAS THE LONGEST CYCLE OF BIBLE MINIATURES SURVIVING FROM THE 13TH CENTURY IN ENGLAND. IN ALL PROBABILITY, THESE BIBLE PICTURES WERE ACTUALLY PREFATORY MATTER TO A PSALTER (NOW STOCKHOLM, NATIONAL MUSEUM, MS. B.2010). DE BRAILES ALSO COMPOSED AND WROTE THE TEXT IN THE FORM OF CAPTIONS THAT ACCOMPANY MANY OF THE IMAGES, A PATTERN OF PRODUCTION OBSERVABLE IN OTHER MANUSCRIPTS MADE BY HIM. ONE EXAMPLE IS LONDON, BRITISH LIBRARY, MS. ADD. 49999, A RICHLY ILLUMINATED BOOK OF HOURS APPARENTLY INTENDED FOR A FEMALE OWNER. WILLIAM DE BRAILES IS ONE OF ONLY TWO ENGLISH ARTISTS OF THE 13TH CENTURY WHOSE NAME WE CAN ASSOCIATE WITH SURVIVING WORKS. THERE ARE 11 MANUSCRIPTS IDENTIFIED AS CONTAINING MINIATURES IN HIS HAND. DE BRAILES HAS A QUIRKY AND CHATTY STYLE, AND IS EXTREMELY GIFTED AT TURNING BIBLE STORIES INTO PAINT.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.