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Hval's codex,
a handwriting from the beginning of the 15th century. It was written
on 353 papers of parchment by " bosancica" (Bosnian or
Croat Cyrillic script) with Glagolitic introduction: "Hval
Krstyanin/Bosnian Christian", "in honour of praised sir
Hrvoje, duke of Split and the knight of Lower Country and others."
The codex is one of the most famous manuscripts belonging to the
Bosnian Church in which there are even iconographic elements which
are not in concordance with the supposed theological doctrine of
Bosnian Christians ( Annunciation, Crucifixion and Ascension); found
in the University library in Bologna ( MS 3575,B). It is decorated
with miniatures, initials, ornaments and individual figures and
compositions. It was considered for a long time that miniatures
were made by Hval who says for himself: "I am writing this
in gold and ink." New analyses of style and painting techniques
show that they were inscribed by two miniaturists.
One painter
is painting on the blue background; figures are expressively plastic
with black contours, situated in rectangular frame; thick colour
is partly restored by gold. He was influenced by Gothic painting
on the wood. To him are assigned miniatures as : Apostle's procession
with Christ Crucifixion, Holy Mary on the throne, the Ascension,
Stoning of Archdeacon Stephen, King David and Moses.
The other painter
paints on the gold background and miniatures are situated in a rich
architectonic frame. His drawing is more beautiful and colours are
lighter, the quality of his work higher than his assistant's on
the codex. He is assigned as the author of : Annunciation, Evangelists
(except John), Christ is giving blessing to his Apostles, initials
with people's figures and some others decorations.
These miniatures
belong , according to their iconographic and artistic values, to
the Gothic art emanating from the circle of Dalmatian painters in
the 15th century. Probably they were made by native painters. This
is confirmed by the fact that some figures and decorations are found
in the Glagolitic Hrvoje's Missal (between 1403. and 1404.).
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The
Hval Manuscript
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Miniatures
from the Hval Manuscript
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