The Book of Miracles, a 16th-century volume of weird illustrations is now available in facsimile editions
A precious 16th-century volume depicting surreal phenomena and hallucinatory calamities is now available in beautifully packaged facsimiles, writes Adam Wright
The Book of Miracles
Taschen
4 stars
In 2007, a mysterious book was put on auction in Munich that depicted a range of wondrous and at times unsettling phenomena, catastrophes and other strange occurrences in a series of about 170 watercolour and gouache paintings.
The volume, known as The Book of Miracles, turned out to be one of the most important recent discoveries in the field of Renaissance art. It was bought by London book dealer James Faber, and was sent to experts who determined it was created in the mid-16th century in what is now the Bavarian region of Germany.
Several years later, Faber sold it to a private collector, but now anyone with an interest in either Renaissance art, mysterious phenomena or just plain weird goings-on can own a copy.
Boutique publisher Taschen has released a facsimile version of The Book of Miracles, which reproduces the volume in its entirety - the paintings and their texts, even the mildewed reverse sides of the artworks.
Gorgeously packaged in a hard clamshell box, the reproduction is accompanied by a softcover guide that contains essays putting the book in its cultural and historical context, as well as translations of the German text inscribed on each painting.