To this day, our knowledge of the production of illuminated manuscripts in Southern Italy between the late Middle Ages and the early modern period remains scant. While general surveys are missing, specific studies have failed to take into consideration prominent urban centres such as Benevento and large geographical areas such as the Calabrian region. In keeping with these premises, the aim of this essay is not to offer an exhaustive survey, but rather to explore a selected series of cases that are particularly relevant for their wider cultural implications. Looking at the history of patronage within the historical development of specific geographical areas, this study will focus on the role played by urban centres, feudal barons, major monasteries, and monastic networks. This investigation discloses a lively cultural circulation marked by the ancient polycentric character of southern Italy, relatively independent from the influence of Naples and open to significant exchanges with the rest of the peninsula. Although as a whole the production of illuminated manuscripts appears to be quantitatively limited and not always of a high quality, in several urban centres it reveals a distinctive cultural character, sometimes with significant implications in terms of local history and identity.

Manuscript illustration in the South of the Peninsula

d'urso
2023

Abstract

To this day, our knowledge of the production of illuminated manuscripts in Southern Italy between the late Middle Ages and the early modern period remains scant. While general surveys are missing, specific studies have failed to take into consideration prominent urban centres such as Benevento and large geographical areas such as the Calabrian region. In keeping with these premises, the aim of this essay is not to offer an exhaustive survey, but rather to explore a selected series of cases that are particularly relevant for their wider cultural implications. Looking at the history of patronage within the historical development of specific geographical areas, this study will focus on the role played by urban centres, feudal barons, major monasteries, and monastic networks. This investigation discloses a lively cultural circulation marked by the ancient polycentric character of southern Italy, relatively independent from the influence of Naples and open to significant exchanges with the rest of the peninsula. Although as a whole the production of illuminated manuscripts appears to be quantitatively limited and not always of a high quality, in several urban centres it reveals a distinctive cultural character, sometimes with significant implications in terms of local history and identity.
2023
D'Urso, Teresa
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11591/492328
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