The monastic library in the Middle Ages

Masterfully illuminated volumes

The theme of the special exhibition in the monastic museum is the great era of the monastic library in the Late Middle Ages. The library’s coming into its own was directly related to its active rapport with both the Viennese Court and Vienna University, founded in 1365, where several canons studied and taught. Provost Georg Muestinger was one of the crucial patrons of the library at the time and, as a member of the ‘Viennese Astronomical School’, also active scientifically himself.

From the 1420s the manuscripts from the scriptorium were illuminated by masters from the workshop of the Viennese Court. The splendour of the manuscripts documents the high regard for education and culture at the monastery. Even in times of economic difficulty it was important to employ the best illuminators of the time. A selection of the finest books, illuminated by the masters Nicholas and Michael, is on show here.

A further, significant impulse for book production in Klosterneuburg was the canonising of Margrave Leopold in 1485. Stories about the founder of the monastery and later patron saint of the region were circulated in printed, hand-decorated books.