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The Morgan Beatus, Part II - Page 4© George R. Hoelzeman
Page 4
May 12, 1998
The commission and location of Maius' scriptorium have also come under scrutiny. The f.293 colophon identifies the commissioning Abbot as Victor, and it is addressed to the monks "who dwell in the monastery of the supreme messenger, the Archangel Michael." The identification of St. Michael's is also found in the opening acrostic. This monastery is identified as San Miguel de Escalada. San Miguel, and the other monastic houses of the Duero valley, became home for northern and Mozarab monks. However, no Abbot Victor can be identified with San Miguel during this time. It has been suggested that Abbot Recesvindus (c.940) was Maius and the initial "R" at the beginning of the colophon is his signature. The reference to Abbot Victor would therefore be a cryptic reference to St. Michael. Records exist of a monk named Victor at Escalada about 955, but even if he were later elected abbot this would be too late for the Morgan Beatus. There is also an Abbot Victor in Astorga in 920. There were numerous monastic foundations in this region, and it is always possible for a foreign abbot to administer another monastery between native abbacies. This would mean that the commission for the Morgan Beatus is closer to 926 than seems possible. Unfortunately, the scanty record for this period of Escalada's history may prevent us from ever knowing.
More certainly, the Morgan Beatus was not created at Escalada, even if it eventually found a home there. No other manuscripts can be identified with this house. It is reasonable, therefore, to conclude that it was produced elsewhere. The most likely candidate for the producing scriptorium is that at of San Maria de Tabara. At least one other manuscript of Tabara (Madrid, Cod.1097B) contains a colophon indicating partial creation by the same Maius (or Magius). In addition, a miniature in the Tabara Beatus along with a colophon on f.167 describes Maius' disciple Emeterius completing the work begun by his master. In the Tower scene Emeterius works alongside the monk Senior, a known student of Florentius. Thus the connection between these illuminators comes full circle. Next time: The Judgement folios.
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this article is very interesting, in special, when you mention Tabara Beatus. Of course the
author was the same: Magius, but when died , by Emeterius and Ende. Another Beatus of this period
was of ...
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