The period from 1400 to 1550 was a glorious era for European manuscript painting. Even after Gutenberg's invention of movable-type printing in around 1450, the demand for luxurious illuminated manuscripts continued well into the 16th century, with the leading studios in Italy, France and Flanders producing some of the finest works of art of the period. The British Library's fine collection of 15th- and 16th- century manuscripts contains some of the outstanding surviving works from Flanders. Examples from the last great epoch of Flemish illumination, c.1475-1550, include the work of most of the major illuminators active after 1470 and an extensive holding of manuscript paintings by Simon Bening, one of the great Flemish book painters. This book contains over 140 reproductions of manuscript paintings from this rich tradition, selected and with an introduction by one of the British Library's expert curators, Scot McKendrick. The book offers an unparalleled opportunity to see a wide range of examples from these precious manuscripts, many of which will never have been seen before. The book will have great visual appeal for those unfamiliar with the subject, as well as providing an excellent source of reference to specialists.

This pleasant small volume presents 140 color plates of Flemish manuscript pages—mainly illuminations, though a few show the script—taken from manuscripts in the British Library. A short introduction to the subject is provided by McKendrick, a curator at the British Library. Distributed by the U. of Toronto Press.
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