En détail - Treasures of the Special Collections

Due to renovation, the popular permanent exhibition in the Murhard Library building had to close in 2012. Visits to the new exhibition space at Brüder-Grimm-Platz are not expected before 2021. Now, instead, it is possible to visit a digital exhibition of 32 of the best-known and most beautiful medieval and early modern manuscripts and prints from the university library's holdings, or more precisely from the historical holdings of the regional library.

In addition to the well-known top items Hildebrandlied, Willehalm Codex and Splendor Solis, the virtual cimelia exhibition "En détail" shows not only impressive public favorites such as the Immenhausen Gutenberg Bible or the town chronicle of Frankenberg, but also previously lesser-known objects such as a description of the world by the Arab historian Ibn al-Wardi from 1644 or an alchemical (recipe) tasting book, which had found acceptance in the landgravial library as a gift from Elector August of Saxony.

In the new virtual exhibition, four high-caliber pieces from different subject areas are each presented in text and image: Sacred Scripture, Religious Practice, Cosmos, Alchemy, World, History, Poetry and Music. True to the motto "en détail", special image details and image extracts are presented here, especially since the new digital format is ideally suited for visualizing such details.

Again and again, new and quite surprising perspectives open up, even on familiar pieces of the collection.

The exhibition was curated by Kassel-based medieval historian and designer Cornelia Dreer, who was responsible for the graphic design of the virtual exhibition and also created the information texts.

Link: https://orka.bibliothek.uni-kassel.de/viewer/treasures/

Contact:

Dr. Brigitte Pfeil
Kassel University Library
Head of Department IV: Regional Library, Head of Special Collections
Phone +49 561 804-7344
pfeil@bibliothek.uni-kassel.de