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Booklet $24.95; Calendar $5.00

The magnificent Bible of Borso d'Este is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest achievements in Italian manuscript illumination. During the six-year period from 1455-1461, a team of artists headed by Taddeo Crivelli, co-founder of the Ferrarese school of manuscript illumination, and Franco dei Russi completely decorated the two-volume work. Prior to the invention of the modern printing press, books that were deemed important were written by hand and decorated - or illuminated - with detailed paintings, characters and ornaments. The opening pages of chapters or sections, known as the incipit pages, were most favored by the artists for illumination.

The Illuminated Year booklet features twelve exquisite full-color pages from the d'Este Bible that correspond with the liturgical season. Relevant passages from both the Old and New Testaments bring word and image together, forming a more complete understanding of the scriptural text.

In addition, a comprehensive essay on the production of the Bible of Borso d'Este and the artists responsible for its illumination, authored by Francis Fletcher, MA, flows throughout each month of the calendar. Mr. Fletcher is presently a Doctoral Candidate in Art History at Rutgers University. His research interests are broad and include the work of Andrea Mantegna, northern Italian painting, and the court culture of Mantua and Ferrara.