Ink Drawings and Sketches

Several Lorsch manuscripts contain ink drawings, which, however, as they are patterns or sketches, do not relate to the context of the manuscripts. Frequently occurring motives are depictions of Christ, angels or saints; as for example the enthroned Christ in Vatican, BAV, Pal. lat. 1719, fol. 34v or the flying angel in Heidelberg, UB, Cod. Pal. lat. 864, fol. 1r or the saint in the upper margin in BAV, Pal. lat. 829, fol. 54r or the Crucifixion scenes in BAV, Pal. lat. 135, fol. 1r and BAV, Pal. lat. 834, fol. 1r.

The origin of many of these pen drawings is presumably in the late Carolingian age, as can be seen in the delicate examples named above. There are also pen drawings from later times, as for example the half-portrait of the crowned sovereign in BAV, Pal. lat. 1719, fol. 49r or the depiction of the Blessing Christ in Wolfenbüttel, HAB, Cod. Guelf. 34 Weiss., fol. 171v, and the similar drawing of a head in the upper margin of fol. 98r, which presumably all date from the 11th century.