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CSMCCentre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures

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Recovering Damaged Writing from a Medieval Chronicle

Regionaal Archief Tilburg, arch.1111, inv. 436: The extensive mechanical damage to the ink makes the writing particularly difficult to read on the natural-light image (left). On the right you see the attempt to restore the previous contrast between the ink and the parchment by processing multispectral data. Image: Ivan Shevchuk

This visibly worn fragment is of a manuscript (c. 1316–1325) containing (at least) the fourth part of Spiegel Historiael, a chronicle written by Jacob van Maerlant and Lodewijk van Velthem, a middle Dutch adaptation of Vincent de Beauvais’ Speculum Historial. This particular fragment was used as a protection layer in another codex. This explains the mechanical damage to the red ink. Multispectral imaging was employed to recover some of the damaged writing. In addition, ink analysis and pigment identification were carried out using XRF.

More Information

CSMC:

Regionaal Archief Tilburg:

  • Stef Uijens
  • Daan Doesborgh
  • ‘Lancelotcompilatie’, a related manuscript partially written on reused parchment was analysed using multispectral imaging in September 2024.