As part of the X edition of Festival Francescano, the Museo Civico Medievale offers an exhibition entitled: Lauds for every hour. The Franciscan chorales from the Basilica of San Francesco.

The exhibition presents a rich selection of the various liturgical codes, made between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries for the Basilica of San Francesco in Bologna, which are currently part of the rich collection of illuminated codes of the Museo Civico Medievale di Bologna. Among these we note the series of precious Franciscan graduals richly illuminated by the so-called Master of the Bible of Gerona, the absolute protagonist of the Bolognese book decoration of the late thirteenth century.

Since the thirteenth century the illustration of the manuscripts has been an essential means of expression for the Order of Friars Minor. Thanks to the iconographic and thematic choices codified by the Order, the images of the Franciscan books represented a fundamental element to exalt the figure of the holy founder, offering a strictly christological reading of his life, which legitimized the role of renewal of the Church operated by the Franciscan Congregation.

In this exhibition it is therefore possible to appreciate the technical skill and the depth of the studies on naturalism and expressiveness in this ancient and fascinating art.

For further information: www.museibologna.it/arteantica