Hitda Codex
Encyclopedia
The Hitda Codex, an eleventh-century codex
containing an evangeliary, a selection of passages from the Gospels, that was commissioned by Hitda, abbess of Meschede
about 1020, is conserved in the Hessische Landesbibliothek, Darmstadt
, Germany. Its illuminations
are highlights of the Cologne school in the later phases of the Ottonian Renaissance
.
In its frontispiece
Hitda is represented offering her evangeliary to St. Walburga. The Hitda Codex is the only surviving series of illuminations of the Cologne school of this period exhibiting the Life of Christ
.
The series of illuminations are set in their cultural context for an English-speaking readership by Henry Mayr-Harting.
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
containing an evangeliary, a selection of passages from the Gospels, that was commissioned by Hitda, abbess of Meschede
Meschede
Meschede is a town in the Hochsauerland district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district Hochsauerlandkreis.-Geography:Meschede is situated in the Ruhr valley, near to the Hennesee, south of the nature-park Arnsberger Wald...
about 1020, is conserved in the Hessische Landesbibliothek, Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
, Germany. Its illuminations
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
are highlights of the Cologne school in the later phases of the Ottonian Renaissance
Ottonian Renaissance
The Ottonian Renaissance was a limited "renaissance" of economy and art in central and southern Europe that accompanied the reigns of the first three emperors of the Saxon Dynasty, all named Otto: Otto I , Otto II , and Otto III , and which in large part depended upon their patronage.One of three ...
.
In its frontispiece
Book frontispiece
A frontispiece is a decorative illustration facing a book's title page. The frontispiece is the verso opposite the recto title page. Elaborate engraved frontispieces were in frequent use, especially in Bibles and in scholarly books, and many are masterpieces of engraving...
Hitda is represented offering her evangeliary to St. Walburga. The Hitda Codex is the only surviving series of illuminations of the Cologne school of this period exhibiting the Life of Christ
Life of Christ
The Life of Christ as a narrative cycle in Christian art comprises a number of different subjects, which were often grouped in series or cycles of works in a variety of media, narrating the life of Jesus on earth, as distinguished from the many other subjects in art showing the eternal life of...
.
The series of illuminations are set in their cultural context for an English-speaking readership by Henry Mayr-Harting.