Boccaccio's Des Cleres Et Nobles Femmes: Systems of Signification in an Illuminated Manuscript (Monographs on the Fine Arts) (English and French Edition)

Buettner, Brigitte

ISBN 10: 0295975202 / ISBN 13: 9780295975207

Published by Univ of Washington Pr, 1996

About this Item

Seller Inventory # E-9780295975207-2-2

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Boccaccio's Des Cleres Et Nobles Femmes: Systems of Signification in an Illuminated Manuscript (Monographs on the Fine Arts) (English and French Edition)
• Publisher: Univ of Washington Pr
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0295975202
• ISBN 13: 9780295975207
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very good

About this title

Synopsis

Buettner (art, Smith College) provides a detailed examination of the French translation of Boccaccio's illuminated manuscript De Mulieribus Claris , known as the Cleres Femmes . After considering the manuscript as a commercial and cultural object, Buettner provides a semiotics-inspired exploration of the iconography of the 109 miniatures. Includes fine reproductions of the entire cycle in b&w, with four color plates. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Reviews

An influential Italian writer of the 14th century, Boccaccio wrote a collection of stories on exemplary historical women, De mulieribus claris. A French merchant commissioned a copy as a gift to the duke of Burgundy in 1402. This French version, known as Des cleres et nobles femmes, was beautifully crafted with colorful miniature illustrations depicting story scenes. Using a vast amount of scholarly research and specialized sources, Buettner (art, Smith Coll.) attempts to trace the influences on the art and style of this manuscript. Unfortunately, the text is greatly hindered by awkward and stiff prose. Terms and phrases are used without explanation or translation, severely limiting readership. The dissection of pictorial elements, though more concrete, is limited. Further inhibiting a generalist's interest, of the more than 100 illustrations, only four are in color. Recommended only for large special collections.?Karen Ellis, Baldwin Boettcher Lib., Humble, Tex.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.