480 APPENDIX TO PART II

the same, blue, purple, and scarlet, with white introduced at intervals, telling like beautiful pearls. It was a great point in the arts-which many did not seem to be aware of-to know how precious white was. Here were two of the introductory leaves of a psalter which he wished to bring to notice, on account of the human faces introduced in the ornament of the letters.¹ One of these illuminations represented Solomon, having been named David’s successor, being made to ride upon the king’s own mule, and the burial of King David with Solomon watching at the bier. Both

of these examples were remarkable for the beauty of the faces. Outline and colour were, however, the principles of these examples; beyond that there was no imitation of nature. The introduction of nature was the culminating point of the art.

8. But from this time they began to enrich their MSS. more and more; the systemisation of colour went on until they reached a point of enormous luxury. With that luxury of ornament and colour came carelessness and the gradual degradation and decline of the art. The manuscript now produced,

¹ [Figures 25, 26, and 27, here introduced, have been engraved on wood from large drawings found at Brantwood. Fig. 25 may serve to illustrate the decorative scroll; fig. 26, the introduction of animals; fig. 27, the addition of human figures.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]