Manesse "Die Manessesche Liederhandschrift", 1300-1315

Notes on the Manessesche Liederhandschrift Manuscript

Note: Permission to present the images in this online library via links was graciously provided by the University of Heidelberg, Germany. The images are available for scientific and academic research purposes only and remain the property of the University of Heidelberg. To view the presentation of the Manesse plates from the University of Heidelberg, click on the image on the lower right or the university's coat of arms on the left. Any desire to publish this material elsewhere or for profit must be approved by the university. For more information, contact the university directly at Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg.

Recently, the Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg has completed the entire Manesse manuscript containing more than 422 plates. The digital presentation of the plates appear to be digitally enhanced resulting in fantastic colour renderings of the plates. Click Cod. Pal. germ. 848 - Codex Manesse to view the online manuscript.

Backgrounder

Manessesche Liederhandschrift or the Manessesche song handwriting originated in in the first quarter 14th Century in the area of Zurich. It is spreading unit of a set of aristocrat and higher Klerus, who had put themselves the ambitious target to create as complete a collection of the minnesaenger and their poems as possible between 1160/70 and 1330. To this circle also the Mr. Manesse belonged, from whom the handwriting received its name. It is well-known also under " the name large Heidelberger " song handwriting.

Beside the poems of the minnesaenger also illustrations of the respective singer in job were given, which represents the artist in an environment characterizing him. In the following one these pictures are to be regarded more exactly detached by the Minnesang than source for mode, preparation technique and utensils.

The miniatures one-eat by four different painters and their assistants were painted. The major part (110 figures) was created by the so-called basic stick painter between approx. 1300 and 1315. These pictures are characterized by a special uniformity and by for the typical strong, absolute colours. Also the frameworks of the figures are uniformly in the colours zinnober and magenta, blue, green and gold held and wise mostly a touching or a lozenge examination up. The pictures of the basic stick painter represent mode and preparation technique, how them were usual since approx. 1230. Therefore these figures can be along-used also for this time as source well.

The supplement painters, who created the paintings to approx. 1330 still altogether created 27 miniatures, which are somewhat " more modern " regarding mode and armament. If the basic stick painter illustrated excluding chain shirts, then we here already find disk sections (e.g. board 73). Also otherwise the pictures of the supplement painters differ from those of the basic stick painter in color choice and framework examination: More more covered mixed colors were used, which lets the pictures altogether somewhat palely and which became frameworks with flowers, climbing or balls verziert work.

Overview

The manuscript is not presented in this library as a fechtbuch. However, it does provide some pictoral clues to life in the 14th century. Of interest are the plates that depict tournaments, which in some cases have a similar "look and feel" as the I.33 manuscript. For example, plate 63 does share similar attributes to I.33 with respect to the sword & buckler and the technique illustrated. Classic tournament harness is illustrated on plate 77 depicting Ulrich von Leichtenstein. Another illustration of a tournament found in plate 8 depicts the dukes of Anhalt in a melee with swords: one of the participants is wrestling with his opponent.

In order view an enlargement of that image, click here for details on registering with AEMMA and obtaining your Online Library electronic card or click on any image below to register for an online library e-Card.

Plate 1	Plate 2	Plate 3	Plate 4	Plate 5
Plate 6	Plate 7	Plate 8	Plate 9	Plate 10
Plate 11	Plate 12	Plate 13	Plate 14	Plate 15
Plate 16	Plate 17	Plate 18	Plate 19	Plate 20
Plate 21	Plate 22	Plate 23	Plate 24	Plate 25
Plate 26	Plate 27	Plate 28	Plate 29	Plate 30
Plate 31	Plate 32	Plate 33	Plate 34	Plate 35
Plate 36	Plate 37	Plate 38	Plate 39	Plate 40
Plate 41	Plate 42	Plate 43	Plate 44	Plate 45
Plate 46	Plate 47	Plate 48	Plate 49	Plate 50
Plate 51	Plate 52	Plate 53	Plate 54	Plate 55
Plate 56	Plate 57	Plate 58	Plate 59	Plate 60
Plate 61	Plate 62	Plate 63	Plate 64	Plate 65a
Plate 65b	Plate 66	Plate 67	Plate 68	Plate 69
Plate 70	Plate 71	Plate 72	Plate 73	Plate 74
Plate 75	Plate 76	Plate 77	Plate 78	Plate 79
Plate 80	Plate 81	Plate 82	Plate 83	Plate 84
Plate 85	Plate 86	Plate 87	Plate 88	Plate 89
Plate 90	Plate 91	Plate 92	Plate 93	Plate 94
Plate 95	Plate 96	Plate 97	Plate 98	Plate 99
Plate 100	Plate 101	Plate 102	Plate 103	Plate 104
Plate 105	Plate 106	Plate 107	Plate 108	Plate 109
Plate 110	Plate 111	Plate 112	Plate 113	Plate 114
Plate 115	Plate 116	Plate 117	Plate 118	Plate 119
Plate 120	Plate 121	Plate 122	Plate 123	Plate 124
Plate 125	Plate 126	Plate 127	Plate 128	Plate 129
Plate 130	Plate 131	Plate 132	Plate 133	Plate 134
			end of plates
Plate 135	Plate 136	Plate 137	end of plates