Illuminated manuscripts from the time of the Ottonian dynasty

Slikarstvo iluminiranih rukopisa svrstava se u značajnija ostvarena tzv. otonske renesanse. Navedeni pojam odnosi se na vladarsko razdoblje saskih vladara čija loza započinje Henrikom I. Ptičarem (919.-936.), a nastavlja se njegovim sinom Otonom I. (936.- 973.) koji u tadašnje njemačke zemlje donosi nov poredak u političkom, društvenom i kulturnom smislu. Vladarsko načelo Otoni preuzimaju od Karla Velikoga, stoga ne čudi što se iluminirani rukopisi otonskog razdoblja ugledaju na karolinške primjere, posebice na tzv. Ada grupu koja je djelovala za života Karla Velikoga. Osim karolinškog utjecaja važni su za spomenuti i antički te todobni bizantski utjecaji. Kao mjesto nastanka velikog broja otonskih rukopisa uzima se skriptorij samostana u Reichenauu, mada se na tu temu vode i danas žustre rasprave. Iako se prvi iluminirani rukopisi nastali u tom skriptoriju javljaju već oko 850. godine, njihova najznačajnija faza je razdoblje od 960. do 1020. godine. S obzirom na veći broj rukopisa može se uočiti razvojni put stila te se stoga otonski iluminirani rukopisi mogu podijeliti na sljedeće grupe: Eburnantovu, Ruodprechtovu, Majstora Registrum Gregorii i Liutharovu. Stil rukopisa kreće se od smirenih prema dinamičnim kompozicijama te s vremenom dolazi do monumentaliziranja tijela likova i iskazivanja emocija na njihovim licima. Često se daju uočiti zlatne ili purpurne pozadine, dok je kolorit izrazito svijetao, a boje su čiste. Razvojni put svih rukopisa objedinjuje ideja povezivanja svjetovne i crkvene vlasti, a ona dolazi od careva koji svojim vještim vladarskim potezima stvaraju novu renesansu, snažnog društvenog i likovnog značenja.The painting of illuminated manuscripts is one of the most significant achievements of the so-called Ottonian Renaissance. The term refers to the reign of the Saxon rulers, whose lineage begins with Henry I the Birdman (919-936) and continues with his son Otto I (936 - 973) which brought a new order in the then German lands in the political, social and cultural sense. The Ottonian rule is taken over from Charlemagne, so it is not surprising that the illuminated manuscripts of the Ottonian period are modeled on Carolingian examples, especially the so-called Ada a group that operated during the lifetime of Charlemagne. In addition to the Carolingian influence, the ancient and contemporary Byzantine influences are also important. The scriptorium of the monastery in Reichenau is taken as the place of origin of a large number of Otto manuscripts, although there are still heated debates on this topic today. Although the first illuminated manuscripts created in this scriptory appear around 850, their most significant phase is the period from 960 to 1020. Given the large number of manuscripts, the developmental path of the style can be observed, and therefore the Otto-illuminated manuscripts can be divided into the following groups: Eburnant's, Ruodprecht's. Master’s Registrum Gregorii and Liuthar’s. The style of the manuscripts ranges from calm to dynamic compositions, and over time the bodies of the characters are monumentalized and emotions are expressed on their faces. Gold or purple backgrounds can often be seen, while the color is extremely bright and the colors are clean. The developmental path of all manuscripts is united by the idea of connecting secular and ecclesiastical authority, and it comes from emperors who, with their skilful governmental moves, create a new renaissance, of strong social and artistic significance