ROSARIUM (Chester Beatty Library Dublin, MS Western 99)
Studies and Facsimiles of Netherlandish Illuminated Manuscripts, Volume 1
1986. Complete color facsimile edition of the 106 pages (52 folios + 2 pp.) in orig. size (124 x 84 mm.). 33 full-page miniatures (with gold).
Commentary volume (18 x 13.5 cm) by Prof. Judith Testa, (Illinois University, Dekalb, Ill.) containing 184 pp. and 38 comparative ills.
Binding: Leather. All folios have been hand-cut according to the original. Together with commentary volume in book case.
Limited edition of 1000 copies with English text and an extensive summary in French. All copies numbered by hand.
ISBN 90-7028-822-2

The manuscript dates from the first half of the 16th cent. This publication is a co-production with the Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, Austria (1000 copies in German translation).
Despite the relatively large number of illuminated manuscripts that survived from the first half of the 16th century, there are only a scant few in which all the miniatures can be attributed to the last and greatest Flemish book illuminator, Simon Bening of Bruges (1483-1561). The so-called ROSARIUM is a little book with miscellaneous prayers.
 This ROSARIUM contains 33 full-page miniatures illustrating the lives of Mary and Christ all but one of which are executed in a consistent style, and of the extraordinarily fine quality typical of Simon's best work.
A special brochure in color is available.