Thorne Miniature Rooms

English Dining Room 1770

Last week I visited one of my favorite places, the Art Institute of Chicago. I wanted to see the Thorne Miniature Rooms and see the holiday decorations that they had added to several of the miniature displays. If you have never seen this exhibit, it’s a permanent display at the museum and is definitely worth a look. The first set of rooms were designed by Mrs. James Warde Thorne and were originally displayed at the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago. The rooms were so well received at the exhibition, that Mrs. Thorne went on to make two more groups of rooms, a European set, first displayed at the Art Institute in 1937, and an American set, completed in 1940. Two ASian rooms were added in 1962, which completed the 68 rooms in the permanent display.

The Thorne rooms enable one to glimpse the elements of European interiors from the late 16th to the 20th century and those of American furnishings from the seventeenth century to 1940. Many are scale copies of specific rooms in historical houses, or were inspired by museum installations of period rooms. Mrs. Thorne herself assembled and supervised the skilled craftspeople who created the detailed rooms and furnishings at the scale of one inch to one foot. She also dealt with the technical aspects of lighting to effectively convey the illusion of daylight coming through windows and adjacent halls, which is one of the most appealing features of the rooms. Of particular interest to me was the period specific decorative painting and wallpaper.

Mrs.-James-Ward-Thorne

French Bathroom and Boudoir of the Revolutionary Period, 1793-1804

chinoiserie wallpaper

chinoiserie wallpaper

grisaille wallpaper

this room had a tiny shoe with toys inside set out in front of the fireplace

Tennessee Entrance Hall 1835

this Santa Fe style room had the table set for a Christmas feast

Tennessee Entrance Hall 1835

If you have the opportunity, this delightful exhibit is a great one to see for the whole family! To view all of the rooms online and get more information, visit the Art Institute’s website at http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/category/18

Kings, Queens and Courtiers…

Vessel for the Heart of Anne of Brittany, with Its Crown, Probably Loire Valley or Paris, January 9–March 19, 1514. Musée Dobrée, Nantes, D. 886-1-1.

I recently saw an interesting exhibit at Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibit, entitled Kings, Queens and Courtiers showcased many Illuminated Manuscripts from the 15th Century, beautiful tapestries, sculptures and more. The illuminated manuscripts were of particular interest to me. I have been intrigued by the books and images I have seen on the internet of these manuscripts for a while, so I was anxious to see the “real thing.” I was blown away by their intricate detail and fine craftsmanship.

An example of an illuminated manuscript like the ones on exhibit at the Art Institute

The miniature books were my favorite. An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and beautifully detailed miniature illustrations painted in vivid colors and often accompanied by gold, or sometimes silver, leaf accents. Hence the term, “illuminated”. The letters themselves were works of art.

ornate lettering was a constant in illuminated manuscripts.

The books were all painted on vellum, a fine grade of goat, calf, or sheep skin and had decorated leather bindings and covers. Some had beautiful and intricate handmade cases that were designed to hang on the owner’s belts.

This book was a book of love poems that was encased in a beautiful leather case that hung around the waist of the recipient. So romantic!

A beautiful example of the detail found on the covers of these manuscripts.

These remarkably well preserved books, most of which were known as “hours” were typically used as prayer books.
The pages or “leaves” are surprisingly abundant and have been actively pursued by collectors for centuries. Even today, the leaves are extremely popular for decorating. They remain lovely works of art and are one of the most affordable artifacts that collectors can find from the pre-Renaissance era.

The influence of these books carried on even after their production ceased. The works of the Pre-Raphaelites in the second half of the 1850’s are a direct result of inspiration from these books. When looking at the work of Dante Gabriel Rosetti, one can see the influence that the vivid colors and medieval subjects of the manuscripts had on him. On a more complex level, he also copied their use of a crowded picture plane and spatial relationships along with the luminous colors found in the illustrations of the books.

The vivid colors and rich details in this painting by Dante Gabriel Rosetti are reminiscent of the illustrations in the Illuminated Manuscripts of the Renaissance era.

William Morris is one of the most widely recognizable artists in the history of decorative arts and was himself a collector of Illuminated Manuscripts. His work was greatly influenced by the calligraphy and illustration contained in the books. So much so, that he created his own modern day versions. His work is still popular and his influences can be seen in many forms in the world of decorative arts from wallpaper and textiles to furniture and home accessories.

William Morris wallpaper

The Illuminated Manuscripts of the Renaissance are a wonderful example of the importance of art in the daily life of a renaissance aristocrat. Their beauty and influence lives on in the decorative art of the 21st century. They are a testament to the innate need and desire of human beings to decorate and beautify the world around us. When we look back at the rich history of all types of decorative painting, these amazing manuscripts are not to be missed.