Gebetbuch König Ludwigs II. von Bayern

Bayerisches Nationalmuseum

Description

The holdings of the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum (Bavarian National Museum) include a fascinating prayer book, a testimony to the personal piety of the Bavarian King Ludwig II (1845-1886). The museum acquired the handwritten prayer book, decorated with miniatures in the style of medieval book illumination, in 1902 for the handsome sum of 2,800 marks. The light leather binding has been crafted with special care. Openwork metal fittings decorated with turquoises mark the corners and centre of the front cover, as well as the back of the prayer book, dated 1867. While the front cover highlights the Bavarian lozenges under the royal crown, the reverse shows an enamelled swan on a sky-blue background. The most important prayers in Catholic liturgy and the high feasts of the year unfold over 140 parchment pages. The renowned genre painter and draughtsman Heinrich Lossow (1843-1897), a pupil of Karl Theodor von Piloty (1826-1886), was entrusted with the picture design. Of the 21 colour illustrations ennobled with gold, ten are full-page illustrations interspersed throughout the magnificent prayer book. The texts were compiled by Jakob von Türk (1826-1912). As court confessor and chaplain at the court and collegiate monastery of St. Cajetan in Munich, he belonged to King Ludwig II’s closest circle. The calligraphic text work in black ink was written by the secret chancery clerk Adolf Sinsel, who also worked at the court.

Author

Astrid Scherp-Langen

Rights Statement Description

CC BY-NC 4.0