AA. VV. - Illuminated Manuscript on Parchment - 1800

Timeless greatness, orthodox world, and pure gold on ancient parchment.
This miniature sheet in gold (538x387 mm), derived from a missal leaf on ancient parchment, belongs to the group of artifacts produced by reusing older liturgical supports and enriching them with subsequent paintings in a Greek-Orthodox style. The composition, enriched with generous use of gold leaf and vivid colors, merges multiple episodes of the Nativity according to Eastern tradition into a single scene: the birth grotto, the Adoration of the Magi, the presence of shepherds and handmaidens, creating a synoptic composition that unites theology, popular devotion, and iconographic taste. The decorated border, of Eastern style, testifies to the cultural hybridization typical of workshops that worked on recovered parchments, producing large miniature scenes on ancient parchment.
Market value
The type – liturgical parchment reused with miniatures in Greek-Orthodox style – shows variable market values. Similar specimens generally range around 2,200 euros, for miniatures of particularly high quality and large size. The specimen under examination, due to its dimensions (538x387 mm), chromatic richness, and iconographic complexity, falls into the highest tier.

Physical description and condition
The sheet is made of thick parchment, clearly visible in the undulations. The entire recto is occupied by a large polychrome miniature enclosed in a decorative frame painted in yellow, adorned with stylized floral motifs, red fruits, and geometric-knotted patterns painted in red and black. At the bottom, inside a yellow-ochre panel, there is a inscription in Gothic calligraphy. Composition gilded with gold and colors. Some browning and signs of use; overall, the color remains bright, and the gilding is well preserved.
In ancient books with a centuries-old history, some imperfections may be present, which are not always noted in the description.

Full title and author
Miniature sheet from a missal on parchment, depicting a large Nativity scene according to Eastern iconography. Anonymous illuminator, probably active within the Greek-Orthodox context of the nineteenth century.

Context and Significance
The work belongs to a tradition of devotional production that reuses out-of-use liturgical parchments, enriching them with new miniatures often intended for pilgrims or collectors. The scene of the Nativity in the cave is central in Eastern iconography: the cave represents the redeemed world, the seated Virgin alludes to royalty, the Magi bring gifts, and the lower scene depicts everyday humanity (Doubting Joseph, the handmaidens, and the child's first bath), creating a complete theological cycle. This type of synoptic composition is typical of workshops drawing on the Byzantine model but with narrative freedom, sometimes integrating Western landscapes and vivid colors.

Biography of the Author
Anonymous miniature. The production on reused parchments was common in Greece, the Balkans, and some Eastern communities of the Levant, with artists often trained in local iconographic schools, also active for popular or devotional commissions.

Printing history and circulation
Since it is not a printed work but a miniature sheet, its production history can be traced back to the workshops that worked on recovered parchments. These artifacts circulated individually, sold as devotional images; the stylistic variety and quality depended on the workshop and period, making each sheet a unique piece.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Evangelatou, M., Byzantine Nativity Iconography: Symbol and Narrative.
Chatzidakis, M., Studies in Post-Byzantine Painting.
Weitzmann, K., The Icon.
Radojčić, S., Serbian and Balkan Icon Painting.
Spufford, P., Power and Profit: The Merchant in Medieval Europe (for the context of devotional circulation).