Abecedarium, Rudolf II

"Mira Calligraphiae Monumenta" is a flamboyant demonstration of two arts - calligraphy and miniature painting - and was produced in the court of Emperor Rudolf II. This is the second half which comprises two alphabets drawn and illuminated by miniaturist Joris Hoefnagel. One consists of Roman capital letters (majuscules), the other, Gothic lower-case letters (minuscules). Both are ingeniously illustrated by symbols and heraldic objects. They are fully explained with a detailed commentary.

Taken from a 16th-century manuscript now housed in the Getty Museum, the intricate illustrations in this tiny volume are characteristic of Renaissance art: each letter is surrounded by religious and political imagery, as well as fanciful creatures and a fragment of a Psalm beginning with the respective letter. The warm, rich colors and the juxtaposition of elements such as crabs, asps, grapes, disembodied wings, crests, irises, and flags imbue each plate with a sense of divine haughtiness and humor. Besides the drawings themselves, the accompanying notes describe the evolution of different fonts, providing information that helps the reader interpret the wealth of information in each drawing.