Treasures of a Lost Art: Italian Manuscript Painting of the Middle Ages and Renaissance
September 30, 2003-February 1, 2004
Robert Lehman Wing

This exhibition will present to the public for the first time the magnificent collection of Italian illuminated manuscripts formed by Robert Lehman (1891-1969). On display will be 101 single leaves and cuttings and two bound volumes, ranging in date from the 13th to the 16th century and covering the major centers of manuscript production in Italy. Among them are works by some of the most famous names in Italian painting, such as Duccio di Buoninsegna, Stefano da Verona, and Cosimo Tura, as well as visually stunning examples by leading figures in the history of Italian manuscript illumination. Accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue of all the pieces formerly in the collection.

Sunday at the Met
"Treasures of a Lost Art: Italian Manuscript Painting of the Middle Ages and Renaissance"
Sunday, October 5
The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
Our celebration of the exhibition "Treasures of a Lost Art:
Italian Manuscript Painting of the Middle Ages and Renaissance" explores how these scintillating works of art were made and valued through a slide-illustrated lecture and documentary films, followed by a performance of sacred music from the period.
(For further information about the exhibition and credits, please see the online preview. The exhibition is on view September 30, 2003-February 1, 2004.)

Films
1:00 p.m.
A World Inscribed: The Illuminated Manuscript
Directed by Kathleen McDonough (24 min.). (1996) Presents a concise history of illuminated manuscript and book production during medieval times

Medieval Manuscripts
Directed by Maurits Smeyers (30 min.). (1986) Shows each step of the process of creating a medieval manuscript

Lecture
2:00 p.m.
Italian Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts: Texts, Patrons, Artists
Jonathan Alexander, professor, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University
One of the foremost authorities in this field, professor Alexander discusses some of the great Renaissance illuminated manuscripts of the 15th and 16th centuries, such as the choir books made for Siena
Cathedral, the Papal Missals made for use in the Sistine Chapel, and humanistic codices for the Medici in Florence, the Sforza in Milan, and the d'Este in Ferrara.

Performance
3:30 p.m.
Melodia Italiana
Early Music New York, Frederick Renz, director
Early Music New York's ensemble of six singers brings the manuscripts to life by performing music from a selection of the pages on view in the exhibition.