Print Me a Manuscript! Facsimiles from the Institute of European Art History

Will we ever speak about a ‘century of facsimiles’? Only roughly a hundred years ago did the reproduction of historical manuscripts find a wide group of buyers beyond the academic community. Facsimiles enabled this wealthy clientele to show and admire ‘old’ manuscripts and illuminated books. At the same time, a phenomenon emerged that critics had predicted early on: The increasing quality of such replicas meant that they were becoming uncannily similar to their models. Indeed, even in today’s most widely publicized and well-financed exhibitions, facsimiles often replace originals. 

Today, the century of facsimiles is gradually coming to a close. It remains to be seen whether this interest endures on the part of elite buyers outside of the academic sphere. Among research institutions, the need for material copies is shrinking in pace with the expanded availability of well-made digital versions. 

This exhibition explores the potential of facsimiles to mediate the book cultures of the European Middle Ages. It asks what issues arise in connection with replicas and stand-ins. Its account begins with the history of facsimile practices, from the earliest copperplate engravings to today’s true-to-the-original reproductions. Then, alongside its focus on the types of books most commonly rendered in facsimile form, the exhibition also investigates the digital copy as a medium of reproduction. 

The exhibition and accompanying catalogue were developed collaboratively over two semesters by students in art history, medieval Latin, auxiliary sciences of history, and cultural heritage. 

Curators
Kim Averna, Hanna Blume, Majka Joanna Bressa, Sophie Marie Daschner, Nico Draxler, Lea Erdweg, Karla Feldwisch, Mara Hartmann, Emin Kağan Heybet, Klara Krauß, Tino Licht, Gerrit M. Manger, Melina Meyer, Manoela Milanova-Kormilev, Rebecca Müller, Noémie Ney, Ina Pöhlmann, Dominika Puzowski, Charlotte Schrüfer, Hannah Francesca Ulmrich, Marc Vélez Kessel, Ecem Yalcin, and Annika Zschoch

Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to the married couple from Mannheim whose generous donation of facsimiles made this project possible. Likewise, we are grateful to the Gisela and Reinhold Häcker Foundation for generous financial support.

The majority of the volumes on display are held in the library of the Institute of European Art History. We would like to express our gratitude to the following lenders: Heidelberg University Library, Library for Middle and New Latin, Peter Fraundorfer

We wish to also recognize the following institutions and members at Heidelberg University:

Heidelberg University Library:
Dr. Jochen Apel, Sabine Palmer-Keßler, and Dr. Karin Zimmermann

University Museum and Scientific Coordination Office for the Collections of the University:
Charlotte Lagemann and Kim Averna

Institute of European Art History:
Steffen Fuchs, Susann Henker, and Birgit Knebel

For their assistance with sound recording, we thank: 
Birgit Becher, Céline Harder, and Jan Kleinmann