Song of Songs with Commentary Song of Songs with Commentary

The Reichenau scriptorium also produced books without lavish illumination. The Staatsbibliothek Bamberg preserves two Reichenau manuscripts with the Song of Songs and a commentary. They show that the same text could be presented in different layout.

This copy of the Latin Song of Songs was written by a scribe also involved in producing the manuscript of the commentary on Isaiah. The generous layout, the golden headings and initials and the careful script show the high esteem in which this book from the Old Testament was held.

While the biblical verses are written in a larger script, the prose notes on the Song of Songs have been inserted in smaller handwriting. The reader alternated between the biblical text and the commentary, thus gaining a profound understanding of both. Images inviting meditations about the story of Christian salvation are absent.