The Model Book of Giovannino de Grassi

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A universal artist like Leonardo da Vinci

he Model Book of Giovannino de Grassi is the best known and most precious manuscript in the "Angelo Mai" Library in Bergamo and is commonly regarded as the most important example of late Italian Gothic art. Created in the late 14th century at the Visconti court, the codex, a so-called model book, comprises 77 drawings and 24 letters of the alphabet in excellent quality.

The master who so perfectly painted the manuscript is Giovannino de Grassi. He was truly a universal artist, gifted drawer and sculptor as well as the architect of the cathedral in Milan. At the height of his career Giovannino de Grassi maintained contact with the most famous architects of the central European Gothic cathedrals, including with Heinrich Parler and Ulrich von Einsingen. This reinforced the Lombardian master's position and probably also led him to produce drawings in which he documented his artistic ideas.

At the height of his career Giovannino de Grassi maintained contact with most famous architects central European Gothic cathedrals including Heinrich Parler and Ulrich von Einsingen. This reinforced Lombardian masters position probably also led him to produce drawings in which he documented artistic ideas.

Model books, guiding images of medieval art

Model books of this kind used to be an indispensable aid in every artist's workshop. They contained artful ornamental elements, perfect calligraphic initials and even animals since most medieval artists never had the opportunity to study "exotic" creatures, such as leopards, gazelles or even lions in nature. In order to depict these animals in a realistic way, it was necessary to provide the artist with a model which could be identified without question by the viewer.

Model books thus provided exemplary motives, showing both human beings and animals in their typical pose or executing specific activities.

Exemplary models for generations of artists

The model book depicts the most varied types of creatures. Sheep and lions rest harmoniously side by side while ostriches, porcupines and monkeys happily roam among the pages of the manuscript. A very interesting feature is the perfectly drawn groups of humans. There are women playing the lyre or gathering to read. There is even a sailing boat.

Every single page of the model book is a work of art in its own right, so masterly executed that many painters after Grassi used it as a model for their own creations.

The world famous figure alphabet

Five most extraordinary pages of the model book contain Giovannino de Grassi's famous alphabet. The Gothic letters, so skilfully painted by the master himself, consist of both human and animal figures. Musicians and angels wander through the book, side by side with very realistically sketched lions or bulls.

Popular collector's items

Given their extraordinary artistic importance and the great influence they would have on the stylistic evolution of art, model books soon became sought after as collector's items. The most famous and most important of all is undoubtedly our sketch book by Giovannino de Grassi, particularly due to the uniqueness of its pictures, each of which represents a coherent work of art in its own right.

An Italian "all-rounder" and his model book

Various factors make Giovannino de Grassi's model book a true milestone in the history of art. Created at the height of his oeuvre at the same time as the cathedral of Milan, it fascinates by its European orientation and its obvious stylistic relationship to other courtly centres of art.

Grassi's activities as a leading engineer of the cathedral in Milan, as a drawer, designer and sculptor of the late 14th century, distinguish him as an enormously talented and diversified artist. He was open to influences from other great contemporary European styles and at the same time a powerful renewer and pioneer of Italian art before the turn of the Renaissance.

The facsimile edition

The Model Book of Giovannino de Grassi is reproduced by Fine Art Facsimile Publishers Lucerne in their proven quality.

All 62 pages of the codex which dates back to the late 14 century Visconti court are reproduced in the original format of 260 x 186 mm to 227 x 170 mm. All 77 drawings and the 24 letters of the alphabet are completely true to the original.

The leaves are individually trimmed according to the original; the individual gatherings are stitched by hand, as in medieval times without the use of glue. The binding is a faithful imitation of the original binding in stiff cardboard. The model book is protected by an etui of the finest rust coloured velours. The full set, consisting of a facsimile volume in the velours etui and a commentary volume, is available in a representative book case.

The facsimile is published in co-edition and limited to 999 copies world-wide. The German edition reserved for Fine Art Facsimile Publishers Lucerne, exclusively with German commentary, is limited to 333 copies.

The expert commentary

The expert commentary explains the miniatures and the magnificent Gothic alphabet in minute detail. Giovannino's oeuvre is analysed, as well as its great influence on the art of the 15th and 16th centuries. One article deals with the recent restoration of the manuscript.

Other articles are written by Orazio Bravi, director of the "Angelo Mai" library, Bergamo; Maria Grazia Recanati of the Accademia Carrara; and by Maria Grazia Vaccari and Letizia Montalbano.

A Documentation Kit containing 2 sample pages, in the original size, from The Model Book of Giovannino de Grassi Fine Art Facsimile Volume, plus an illustrated, 12 page information brochure, is available for $US75.

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