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 commonly known as the Schedula diversarum artium ("List of various arts") or De diversis artibus ("On various arts"), probably first compiled between 1100 and 1120.
Christ crucified from a Processional Cross, by the circle of Roger of Helmarshausen, Lower Saxony, c. 1100, cast bronze
The oldest manuscript copies of De diversis artibus are found in Vienna (Austrian National Library, Codex 2527) and in Wolfenbüttel (Herzog-August-Bibliothek, Cod. Guelf. Gud. Lat. 69 2°). Gotthold Ephraim Lessing rediscovered the document when he worked as librarian in Wolfenbüttel, and published excerpts in 1774. The work contains perhaps the earliest reference to oil paint, which aroused great interest as the mention disproved Vasari's myth of Jan van Eyck developing the technique of oil painting in the early 15th century, about which antiquaries had already become suspicious.[1] It also contains what seems to be the earliest textual evidence for wire-making using a draw plate.[2]
Theophilus' Schedula allows detailed insights into the techniques used in the applied arts in the high Middle Ages. The work is divided into three books. The first covers the production and use of painting and drawing materials (painting techniques, paints, and ink), especially for illumination of texts and painting of walls. The second deals with the production of stained glass and techniques of glass painting, while the last deals with various techniques of goldsmithing and other metalwork. It also includes an introduction into the building of organs.
The First Book, on painting, is not particularly well-informed, but adequately reliable, the Second, on glass, is better, while most of the Third Book is clearly the work of a practising metalworker. It has recently been suggested that the apparent contradictory evidence as to dating, practical experience, and location of 'Theophilus' is best explained if the Schedula is understood to be a compilation.[3]
The work has been translated into English, French, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Hungarian, German, Italian, Japanese, Bulgarian, and Russian, mostly in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Biographyedit
'Theophilus' was quite possibly a Benedictine monk. It has been suggested (particularly by Eckhard Freise [de]) that Theophilus is the same person as the artisan monk Roger of Helmarshausen. Roger appears to have come from Stavelot Abbey in the Meuse River region, was active as an artist 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's conclusions have not yet been accepted by all researchers. Other suggestions have also been made, and at present there can not be said to be a consensus.[4]
Editions and translationsedit
Two editions of Theophilus's work with English translations:
Ilg, A., ed. (1874). "Theophilus Presbyter. Schedula diversarum artium". Quellenschriften für Kunstgeschichte (in German). Vol. 7. Vienna.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) (Edition.)
Dodwell, C. R. The Various Arts. De Diversis Artibus. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1961, reprinted 1986. (Edition with English translation.)
Hendrie R. An Essay upon Various Arts in three Books by Theophilus called also Rugerus. London, 1847, 1961. (Edition with English translation.)
Hawthorne, J. G. and C. S. SmithTheophilus: On Divers Arts. University of Chicago Press, 1963; reprinted New York: Dover Publications 1979; ISBN0-486-23784-2. (English translation.)
Further readingedit
In Englishedit
White, Lynn (1964). "Theophilus redivivus". Technology and Culture. 5 (2): 224–233. doi:10.2307/3101163. JSTOR 3101163. S2CID 260096342. reprinted in Medieval Religion and Technology. University of California Press. 1978.
Thompson, Daniel V. (1967). "Theophilus Presbyter, words and meanings in technical translation". Speculum. 42 (2): 313–339. doi:10.2307/2854679. JSTOR 2854679. S2CID 161939192.
In Germanedit
Brepohl, E. (1999). Theophilus Presbyter und das mittelalterliche Kunsthandwerk (in German). Cologne.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) (2 volumes).
Freise, E. (1981). "Roger von Helmarshausen in seiner monastischen Umwelt". Frühmittelalterliche Studien (in German). Vol. 15.
Lessing, Gotthold Ephraim (1774). Vom Alter der Ölmalerey aus dem Theophilus Presbyter (in German). Berlin.
Theobald, W. (1933). Technik des Kunsthandwerks im 10. Jh. Des T. Schedula Diversarum Artium (in German). Berlin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) 1953 and 1983 (includes translations and explanations of sections of the work).
External linksedit
English and French medieval stained glass in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Theophilus Presbyter
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Theophilus Presbyter.
Referencesedit
^Gotlieb, Marc, "The Painter's Secret: Invention and Rivalry from Vasari to Balzac", p. 473, The Art Bulletin, Vol. 84, No. 3 (Sep., 2002), pp. 469–490, JSTOR
^E. G. Thomsen and H. H. Thomsen, 'Early Wire Drawing Through Dies', Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering, 96.4 (November 1974), 1216–21.
^Clarke, M. (2011) Mediaeval Painters’ Materials and Techniques: The Montpellier ‘Liber diversarum arcium’. London: Archetype Publications: 56–7
theophilus, presbyter, 1070, 1125, pseudonymous, author, compiler, latin, text, containing, detailed, descriptions, various, medieval, arts, text, commonly, known, schedula, diversarum, artium, list, various, arts, diversis, artibus, various, arts, probably, f. 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 commonly known as the Schedula diversarum artium List of various arts or De diversis artibus On various arts probably first compiled between 1100 and 1120 Christ crucified from a Processional Cross by the circle of Roger of Helmarshausen Lower Saxony c 1100 cast bronze Contents 1 Work 2 Biography 3 Editions and translations 4 Further reading 4 1 In English 4 2 In German 5 External links 6 ReferencesWork editThe oldest manuscript copies of De diversis artibus are found in Vienna Austrian National Library Codex 2527 and in Wolfenbuttel Herzog August Bibliothek Cod Guelf Gud Lat 69 2 Gotthold Ephraim Lessing rediscovered the document when he worked as librarian in Wolfenbuttel and published excerpts in 1774 The work contains perhaps the earliest reference to oil paint which aroused great interest as the mention disproved Vasari s myth of Jan van Eyck developing the technique of oil painting in the early 15th century about which antiquaries had already become suspicious 1 It also contains what seems to be the earliest textual evidence for wire making using a draw plate 2 Theophilus Schedula allows detailed insights into the techniques used in the applied arts in the high Middle Ages The work is divided into three books The first covers the production and use of painting and drawing materials painting techniques paints and ink especially for illumination of texts and painting of walls The second deals with the production of stained glass and techniques of glass painting while the last deals with various techniques of goldsmithing and other metalwork It also includes an introduction into the building of organs The First Book on painting is not particularly well informed but adequately reliable the Second on glass is better while most of the Third Book is clearly the work of a practising metalworker It has recently been suggested that the apparent contradictory evidence as to dating practical experience and location of Theophilus is best explained if the Schedula is understood to be a compilation 3 The work has been translated into English French Polish Portuguese Spanish Hungarian German Italian Japanese Bulgarian and Russian mostly in the 19th and 20th centuries Biography edit Theophilus was quite possibly a Benedictine monk It has been suggested particularly by Eckhard Freise de that Theophilus is the same person as the artisan monk Roger of Helmarshausen Roger appears to have come from Stavelot Abbey in the Meuse River region was active as an artist 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 s conclusions have not yet been accepted by all researchers Other suggestions have also been made and at present there can not be said to be a consensus 4 Editions and translations editTwo editions of Theophilus s work with English translations Ilg A ed 1874 Theophilus Presbyter Schedula diversarum artium Quellenschriften fur Kunstgeschichte in German Vol 7 Vienna a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Edition Dodwell C R The Various Arts De Diversis Artibus Oxford Clarendon Press 1961 reprinted 1986 Edition with English translation Hendrie R An Essay upon Various Arts in three Books by Theophilus called also Rugerus London 1847 1961 Edition with English translation Hawthorne J G and C S Smith Theophilus On Divers Arts University of Chicago Press 1963 reprinted New York Dover Publications 1979 ISBN 0 486 23784 2 English translation Further reading editIn English edit White Lynn 1964 Theophilus redivivus Technology and Culture 5 2 224 233 doi 10 2307 3101163 JSTOR 3101163 S2CID 260096342 reprinted in Medieval Religion and Technology University of California Press 1978 Thompson Daniel V 1967 Theophilus Presbyter words and meanings in technical translation Speculum 42 2 313 339 doi 10 2307 2854679 JSTOR 2854679 S2CID 161939192 In German edit Brepohl E 1999 Theophilus Presbyter und das mittelalterliche Kunsthandwerk in German Cologne a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link 2 volumes Freise E 1981 Roger von Helmarshausen in seiner monastischen Umwelt Fruhmittelalterliche Studien in German Vol 15 Lessing Gotthold Ephraim 1774 Vom Alter der Olmalerey aus dem Theophilus Presbyter in German Berlin Theobald W 1933 Technik des Kunsthandwerks im 10 Jh Des T Schedula Diversarum Artium in German Berlin a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link 1953 and 1983 includes translations and explanations of sections of the work External links editIncomplete Latin e text English and French medieval stained glass in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art fully available online as PDF which contains material on Theophilus Presbyter nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Theophilus Presbyter References edit Gotlieb Marc The Painter s Secret Invention and Rivalry from Vasari to Balzac p 473 The Art Bulletin Vol 84 No 3 Sep 2002 pp 469 490 JSTOR E G Thomsen and H H Thomsen Early Wire Drawing Through Dies Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering 96 4 November 1974 1216 21 Clarke M 2011 Mediaeval Painters Materials and Techniques The Montpellier Liber diversarum arcium London Archetype Publications 56 7 1 Around Theophilus expert meeting Wolfenbuttel 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theophilus Presbyter amp oldid 1184140026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
