The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-12-11

hotel In Chicago refused to accept the Bibles from
the Gfdeons for it's guest rooms on the grount
that the patronage would be of such a high type
that they would not be needed. But soon the
patrons "of such high type" made so many com
plants about the absence of Bibles in the rooms
that the management found it necessary to supply
them. Moral: People do not get either too high
or too low in the social scale to find comfort and
inspiration in its pages.
The Italian purchase Is the record high price
for a Bible. By this purchase Italy has recovered
one Of her most famous art treasures-the Bible
of Borso dEste. duke of ~Ferrara-through the
generosity of Slgnor Treccani, a wealthy citizen
of Milan. The book was produced in the Fifteenth
century, and has long been regarded as a remark
able example Of the art of the Italian renaissance.
It was taken from Italy ~sixty-odd years ago, and
finally found its way into the hands of a Paris
dealer. Signor Treccani paid 100000 lire, or
$250,0O0, for the book.
Duke BorsO d'Este was fortunate enough to
live In peaceful times, and so was able to dedi
cate himself to the development of the fine arts.
The court of Ferrara, which had always been
noted for its gay and splendid entertainments,
acquired under his rule new fame as an artistic
and intellectual center. Artists, s%culptors, poets
and men Of science and literature focked TO Fer
rara and were welcomed at court, and aid and
support were given to all who showed talent or
genius.
This was a century when artists did not con-
slider it a loss Of time to spend many years In
completing one work of art and rendering 1t per-
feet. Thus one sees marvellous works of patience
and talent In the manuscripts of the time, most
of which were painted and illumined by monks.
who often passed a whole lifetime Illustrating
one book or manuscript.
Duke Borso dEste had a special preference for
the art of illumination and miniature painting.
and he called to his court two Of the best-known
artists of the time, Taddeo di Nicolo Crivelli and
w.. 4, G{o-.- l. D-oc{ Af Afnnfrro md he
ing taken a house in Ferrara, where they might
work undisturbed, confided to them the important
task of Illustrating the Bible. The book Is com
posed of two volumes in parchment, one contain
Ing 81 pages, the other 293, and these are COW
cred with about a thousand Nominations and
miniature paintings illustrating the episodes of
the Scriptures. The ornamental borders are a
fantastic mixture of animals and flowers in color.
The artists were employed seven years, from 1855
to 1862, to complete their great work.
The ancient binding in cloth of gold, with sill
yer ornaments and gilt clasp, was substituted in
the Eighteenth century by another gorgeous bind
ing. but of inferior artistic value.
Until 1859 this Bible was the gem of the ducal
collection of art at Modena. In that year Duke
Francesca V. was exiIed to Austria and took the
Rible with him, together with other famous Ital
ian works of art. The book afterward fell into
the hands of Archduke Francesca Ferdinando, who
sold 1t to the Emperor Francis Joseph. The EN-
peror treasured 1t as a sacred object until his
death. when Charles / took possession of 1t.
the hard necessities of life compelled him
70 sell the book to an %antiquary in Paris. Signor
Treccani never failed to follow the wanderings
II the Bible and as soon as he discovered that
I was in the hands of the Paris dealer he went
q that city. 1t appears that an American banker.
after the contract was signed, offered another mil
ion hut Signor Treccani refused to consider the
,rer. declaring that he intended the book as o
nit 70 Italy, to which It really belonged