French Carolingian manuscripts (801-850)

Carolingian art comes from the Frankish Empire in the period of roughly 120 years from about 780 to 900 - during the reign of Charlemagne and his immediate heirs - popularly known as the Carolingian Renaissance. The art was produced by and for the court circle and a group of important monasteries under Imperial patronage. The art was produced in several centres in what are now France, Germany, Austria, northern Italy and the Low Countries, and received considerable influence, via continental mission centres, from the Insular art of the British Isles, as well as a number of Byzantine artists who appear to have been resident in Carolingian centres.

Part of Charlemagne's promotion of education and book learning included the importation of the world's most distinguished scholars into his court. One of these was Alcuin (c. 735-804), who had been born at York in England. In 796 he became abbot of St. Martin's Abbey, and set in motion there a campaign of manuscript production which lasted far into the ninth century and made Tours the world centre for Bibles and for Carolingian minuscule script. These manuscript Bibles were acquired by monasteries in many parts of the Carolingian empire. The great achievements of the Tours scriptorium during the ninth century were closely related to sources at Charlemagne's court school in Aachen.

Another important French centre of manuscript production was the court school of Charles the Bald (823-877) in Reims. It was the last of the great schools of the Carolingian Renaissance.

Preview Picture Data Info
Utrecht Psalter
820s
Manuscript (Ms. Bibl. Rhenotraiectinae I Nr 32), 330 x 256 mm
Universiteitsbibliotheek, Utrecht


Utrecht Psalter
820s
Manuscript (Ms. Bibl. Rhenotraiectinae I Nr 32), 330 x 256 mm
Universiteitsbibliotheek, Utrecht


Utrecht Psalter
820s
Manuscript (Ms. Bibl. Rhenotraiectinae I Nr 32), 330 x 256 mm
Universiteitsbibliotheek, Utrecht


Utrecht Psalter
820s
Manuscript (Ms. Bibl. Rhenotraiectinae I Nr 32), 330 x 256 mm
Universiteitsbibliotheek, Utrecht


Ebbo Gospels
816-35
Manuscript (Ms. 1), 260 x 208 mm
Bibliothèque municipale, Epernay


Ebbo Gospels
816-35
Manuscript (Ms. 1), 260 x 208 mm
Bibliothèque municipale, Epernay


Ebbo Gospels
816-35
Manuscript (Ms. 1), 260 x 208 mm
Bibliothèque municipale, Epernay


Cassiodorus: Commentary on the Psalms
802-10
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 2195), 375 x 270 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Cassiodorus: Commentary on the Psalms
802-10
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 2195)
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1), 495 x 345 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1), 495 x 345 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1), 495 x 345 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1)
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1), 495 x 345 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1)
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1)
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1), 495 x 345 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Vivian Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 1), 495 x 345 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Moutier-Grandval Bible
c. 840
Manuscript (Add. Ms. 10546), 510 x 375 mm
British Library, London


Bible
c. 845
Manuscript (Ms. Ludwig I. 1)
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles


Lothar Gospels
849-51
Manuscript (Ms. lat. 266), 322 x 250 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris


Sainte-Aure Evangelary
c. 850
Manuscript (Ms. 1171), 270 x 220 mm
Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, Paris



Summary of illuminated manuscripts (miniatures)
Late Antique and Pre-Romanesque periods
351-400 | 401-450 | 451-500 | 501-550 | 551-600 | 601-650 | 651-700
701-750 | 751-800 | 801-850 | 851-900 | 901-950 | 951-1000
Romanesque period
1001-1050 | 1051-1100 | 1101-1150
Early and High Gothic periods
1151-1200 | 1201-1250 | 1251-1300
Late Gothic and Renaissance periods
1301-1350 | 1351-1400 | 1401-1450 | 1451-1500 | 1501-1550
Book covers
Illuminations by known masters
List of illuminators



© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.