Lost Manuscripts of the Sistine Chapel: In Dallas Until April 23

Image From The Votive Missal Of Urban VIII
one of my favorite images from the exhibit, via Booktryst

We went to see this soon after Lent began and I can highly recommend anyone who lives nearby going to see this magnificent collection of illuminated manuscripts.

These manuscripts were rescued from the looted Sacristy of the Sistine Chapel by Spanish Archbishop of Toledo Cardinal Francisco Antonio de Lorenzana y Buitron. He spirited them away to Toledo for safekeeping. They are important for many reasons but the ones I appreciated them for are summed up beautifully by BOOKTRYST.

But more artistically important than the text of the books are their magnificent calligraphy and elaborate decorative elements. Each codex is a one-of-a-kind work of fine art, entirely handwritten and illustrated, and colored with pigments made of gold, silver, and precious stones like malachite and lapis lazuli.

Do go read the entire piece at BOOKTRYST. It is highly informative. The Practicing Catholic also saw the exhibit recently and has her own thoughts on it.

I found it inspirational, thinking of the popes and cardinals having these pieces available for their own private meditations when they were reading. It made me long for something similar.

On a more worldly note, I was quite disappointed to discover that not only is there not a book of images, but also not a poster ... but that is all the more reason to go see it for yourself if you can manage it at all.

They are on display in the United States for the first time (possibly for the only time) and are at the SMU Meadows Museum.