Theophilus the Various Arts De Diversis Artibus Cr Dodwell 1961

Christ crucified from a Processional Cross, by the circle of Roger of Helmarshausen, Lower Saxony, c. 1100, bandage bronze

Theophilus Presbyter (fl. c. 1070–1125) is the pseudonymous author or compiler of a Latin text containing detailed descriptions of various medieval arts, a text unremarkably known as the Schedula diversarum artium ("Listing of various arts") or De diversis artibus ("On various arts"), probably first compiled between 1100 and 1120. The oldest manuscript copies of the work are found in Vienna (Austrian National Library, Codex 2527) and in Wolfenbüttel (Herzog-August-Bibliothek, Cod. Guelf. Gud. Lat. 69 two°). Gotthold Ephraim Lessing rediscovered the document when he worked as librarian in Wolfenbüttel, and published excerpts in 1774. These aroused peachy interest every bit they disproved Vasari's myth of Jan van Eyck developing the technique of oil painting in the early 15th century, about which antiquaries had already get suspicious.^[i]

Theophilus' Schedula allows detailed insights into the techniques used in the practical arts in the high Centre Ages. The work is divided into 3 books. The first covers the production and apply of painting and cartoon materials (painting techniques, paints, and ink), particularly for illumination of texts and painting of walls. The 2nd deals with the production of stained glass and techniques of drinking glass painting, while the last deals with various techniques of goldsmithing and other metalwork. It too includes an introduction into the edifice of organs. Theophilus contains perhaps the earliest reference to oil paint. The work has been translated into English, French, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Hungarian, German, Italian, Japanese, Bulgarian, and Russian, by and large in the 19th and 20th centuries.

'Theophilus' was quite possibly a Benedictine monk. It has been suggested (particularly by Eckhard Freise) that Theophilus is the aforementioned person as the artisan monk Roger of Helmarshausen. Roger appears to have come from Stavelot Abbey in the Meuse River region, was agile as an creative person and author between 1100 and 1107 in St. Pantaleon's church in Cologne, and moved to Helmarshausen Abbey in 1107. The identity of the two men has been argued among researchers for some time, but Freise'southward conclusions take not nevertheless been accepted past all researchers. Other suggestions have also been made, and at nowadays there tin not be said to exist a consensus.^[ii]

Theophilus, as the author of a "handbook", has been described as a mere theorist, merely this view is currently in the minority. The First Book, on painting, is not particularly well-informed, but adequately reliable, the 2nd, on glass, is amend, while most of the Third Book is conspicuously the work of a practising metalworker. It has recently been suggested that the apparent contradictory testify every bit to dating, practical experience, and location of 'Theophilus' is all-time explained if the Schedula is understood to be a compilation.^[3]

Works [edit]

• De diversis artibus or Schedula diversarum artium (in iii books, date controversial simply ca. 1125)

Two editions of Theophilus's work with English translations:

• Dodwell, C. R. The Diverse Arts. De Diversis Artibus. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1961, reprinted 1986
• Hendrie R. An Essay upon Various Arts in three Books past Theophilus chosen as well Rugerus. London, 1847, 1961

A good English translation:

• Hawthorne, J. Grand. and C. South. Smith Theophilus: On Divers Arts. Academy of Chicago Printing, 1963; reprinted New York: Dover Publications 1979; ISBN 0-486-23784-2

Reference in English:

• White, Lynn Theophilus redivivus. Engineering science and Civilisation v, 1964, 224–233; reprinted in Medieval Religion and Technology, Academy of California Printing, 1978.
• Thompson, Daniel V., 'Theophilus Presbyter, words and meanings in technical translation'. In Speculum 42/2 1967, 313–339.

The following references are in German:

• Brepohl, E. Theophilus Presbyter und das mittelalterliche Kunsthandwerk. Cologne, 1999 (ii volumes).
• Freise, E. "Roger von Helmarshausen in seiner monastischen Umwelt". In Frühmittelalterliche Studien, 15, 1981.
• Ilg, A. (Editor). "Theophilus Presbyter. Schedula diversarum artium". In Quellenschriften für Kunstgeschichte, volume 7. Vienna, 1874.
• Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim. Vom Alter der Ölmalerey aus dem Theophilus Presbyter. Berlin, 1774.
• Theobald, Due west. Technik des Kunsthandwerks im x. Jh. Des T. Schedula Diversarum Artium, Berlin, 1933, 1953 and 1983 (includes translations and explanations of sections of the work).

External links [edit]

• Incomplete Latin east-text.
• Hendrie's edition and English translation of De diversis artibus, at Google Books
• English and French medieval stained drinking glass in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Fine art, an exhibition itemize from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully bachelor online every bit PDF), which contains cloth on Theophilus Presbyter

References [edit]

1. ^ Gotlieb, Marc, "The Painter'southward Hush-hush: Invention and Rivalry from Vasari to Balzac", p. 473, The Fine art Message, Vol. 84, No. 3 (Sep., 2002), pp. 469–490, JSTOR
2. ^ [1], "Around Theophilus": practiced meeting, Wolfenbüttel 2010.
3. ^ Clarke, M. (2011) Mediaeval Painters' Materials and Techniques: The Montpellier 'Liber diversarum arcium'. London: Archetype Publications: 56–vii

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theophilus_Presbyter

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