Research and development of electronic access to Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts from the Koninklijke Bibliotheek

Summary

Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts Digitised is a project from Koninklijke Bibliotheek The Hague, in cooperation with Utrecht University, Department of Computer & Humanities. The project aims to make the image material from the collection of Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts accessible for study and research via the internet and cd-rom. The collection illuminated manuscripts of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek is the richest of the Netherlands. To digitise the image material from this collection means to provide global access for a wide audience to a rich and from a cultural historical viewpoint important collection of sources.

Users frequently consult the collection of illuminated manuscripts. This collection is an important source of information for a wide group of national and international scholars from various disciplines within the humanities. The collection itself, however, is because of its precious value and fragile character only accessible within reserved reading rooms in the library.

Digitisation must definitely add extra value: mere conversion of the material to another medium must not be the only reason. The extra value can definitely be found in improved accessibility of library material. Improved access will add extra value as well as the iconographic descriptions, indexing and direct linkage between images and descriptions add extra enrichment to the collection. It is possible to visually match images, to show how certain developments occurred or to compare on screen themes and subjects through juxtaposition of images of the miniatures. In this way, it is possible to compare decorative schemes and representations or to study the work and development of a single master. The production of a region or centre could also be studied more comprehensively than ever before. The possibility of examining rare and unique objects outside the secure, climate controlled environments of the library liberates collections for study. The ability to display and access collections over the (inter)national networks and even link collections from around the world breaks down physical barriers to access and might reach new, and dispersed audiences. The possibility to be able to combine different sources will definitely open new views and have an impact on the way research is carried out.
Much preparatory work has already been carried out. Almost all the images have been described. Part of the slides, needed as intermediary for digitisation have been produced as well.

Koninklijke Bibliotheek and the Department of Computers and Humanities, Utrecht University, have been working together for several years. Both institutions signed an agreement of cooperation 4 April 1996.

This projects is an opportunity to carry out and further some of the expertise fields mentioned in the agreement such as widening access to cultural-historical documents. The cooperation allows for the combining of specific knowledge and expertise on several relevant fields.

Using high quality content and techniques, KB and UU aim to provide a product which is innovative within the field of scholarly libraries:

  • The scale of this project is much more extensive than most projects undertaken elsewhere: It is not complicated to make accessible a relatively small amount of illuminated manuscripts. However, the combination of so much information (6500 images plus databases with descriptions and thesauri) involves many technological problems.
  • Innovative for schorlarly research is the provision of online accessibility of iconographically coded visual materials which will be linked to descriptions of these images. The project incorporates the results of earlier projects carried out by KB and UU, e.g. Emblemata project, DISKUS, the electronic version of the book Hundred Highlights from the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, AIW (Advanced Information Workstation), and KB's network service Alexicon.
  • More and more SGML is being used for document coding. This project aims to use SGML to test and expand the Document Type Definition (DTD) of illuminated manuscripts in relation to Text Encoding Initiative (TEI).
  • With this project KB and UU aim to set an example for other (national) libraries. Accessibility via local servers and cd-rom will be carefully studied.

The attention of many research projects was in recent years mainly geared to technological developments. The results of these studies and the technologies developed will be used in this project. However, the attention will shift from the solving of specific technological problems to the solving of problems dealing with the content: the linkage, accessibility and possibilities to search of relatively extensive amounts of images with descriptions, the value and possibilities of the collection for research and study. The project contributes in an innovative way to the dissemination of knowledge of an important part of our cultural heritage.

Illuminated Manuscripts Digitised project is meant to be the first collection to be digitised as part of a series of collections. KB's collection of illuminated manuscripts contains about 50% of all illuminated manuscripts in the Netherlands. The other 50% is dispersed over several university libraries, public libraries, musea, archives and convents. These dispersed collections are being inventoried in the Bijvanck Project. In time, these collections will be digitised and added to KB's collection. Every one illuminated manuscript in the Netherlands will be accessible electronically for a wide audience.

The project will last eightteen months (January 1998 - June 1999) and will progress in three phases: research and design, development and implementation, and access. KB will assume the responsibility for projectmanagement. UU will be responsible for most of the technolocal development. After the project has been finished KB is responsible for technological and content management of the image database.

The Sources: the Collections Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

The Koninklijke Bibliotheek holds the largest collection of medieval manuscripts in The Netherlands. The collection counts as this moment 1,500 medieval codices. The main part are the illuminated manuscripts (550). This illumination consists of (1) miniatures (painted images), (2) initials ( specially designed characters at the beginning of a sentence or a text fragment. Decorated with plants , animals or geometric lines they have been called `decorated initials'; with a figure in it `historiated initials'.) and (3) margin decorations. All together these kinds of decoration show a representative overview of the medieval art of bookpainting from the early middle ages up to the sixteenth century, when the printed book became more popular.

The basic collection is formed by the manuscripts from the libraries of the counts of Nassau and the princes of Orange with splendid exampels from France and the Southern Netherlands. During the nineteenth century this collection has been enlarged with hundreds of illuminated manuscripts particularly from France and the Netherlands. Among these manuscripts are books of hours, psalters, liturgical manuscripts, tales of chivalry, works of Livy or Vergil translated from the french, historical works of Vincent of Beauvais or Froissart and didactic writings of Christine de Pisan and Jacob of Maerlant. The specimina of medieval bookpainting are of chief interest for the history of art. Known masters as Jean Fouquet, Jean le Tavernier, the Master of Catharine of Cleves are represented. The illumination is also important for the history of the book, it can guide scholars to the first owner of the book and the commissioner of the decoration, it helps to date and locate the manuscript and it can say something about the writing and making of the book.
A special part from the collection are the illuminated manuscripts from the Northern Netherlands. The KB holds the largest collection of these manuscripts in the world and is growing into an international centre for the study of illumination of the Northern Netherlands. A synthesis of the scholarly activities in this field is to be found in The golden age of Dutch manuscript painting and in Kriezels, aubergines en takkenbossen. Randversiering in Noordnederlandse handschriften uit de vijftiende eeuw.

Research into the relation between word and image in the illuminated manuscripts yield results which are important for the study of history and literature. This matters the Chronicle of Froissart as well as the Rijmbijbel, the Spiegel Historiael and Der Naturen Bloeme of Jacob of Maerlant. As a lot of miniatures and historiated initials show contemporary dressing varying from the clothes of persons - craftsmen and ruling princes - to views of cities and landscapes, they represent as such an important source for historical research.

The quantity of the collection of illuminated manuscripts of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek is smaller than the collections in New York, London or Paris. Its quality however can be compared with them. Some pieces in The Hague can beat gloriously manuscripts from the above mentionned collections. Each year aproximately 50 specialised scholars from abroad visit the Koninklijke Bibliotheek to examine these treasures.

The collection of Dutch illuminated manuscripts in the Koninklijke Bibliotheek is of an international importance. Nowhere in the world such an ammount of illuminated manuscripts from the Northern Netherlands can be seen. These manuscripts are unique sources to our knowlegde about the history of the Middle Ages. The flourishing (art historical) study of the medieval manuscripts causes a growing use of them. Although in many cases visitors can start their research with photo books or microfilms about the collections, last year the manuscript itself had to leave its shelf some 900 times.

Users

Conform one the main tasks as National Library, KB aims at academic researchers: academics, students, at the same time reaching a wider, more popular-scientifically interested audience.
As described above, illuminated manuscripts appear very interesting to a wide scholarly audience: art-historians, historians, literary scholars, medievists, and many others.

This user group requires high qualified products, high resolution images as well as fast browse and zoom facilities. A "scholar's workstation," which supports many research functions, will be needed. Users would want to display a record from a curatorial research database, or a critique from an on-line journal article, alongside the image. Users would want to place images within a word-processing document, or put text records describing images into a bibliography or footnote? It should be possible to process information from the database in other applications. The interface design will take these user requirements into account.

Starting Points

Standard technology
One of the starting points is that the results should go beyond a single project. Its potential user group should be relatively wide. As always when dealing with technology, care must be taken to develop a strategy that does not limit or foreclose future options and that offers a likely upgrade path. Careful choice of technology and use of common standard techniques and descriptions allow for exchange of information via a series of databases via net works. Building on the experience of previous projects the aim is to use common techniques in order to invite other libraries and institutions to participate, together building a `Virtual Digital Library'.

Preservation
Preservation and access are the main arguments for digitising collections. Since 1976, KB already started a program for microfilming and photographing materials such as medieval manuscripts for reasons of preservation. Digitisation means that costly and often fragile originals need to be handled less often. A digitised collection which is accessible via the (inter)network allows the user to do his research from his own desktop. It allows him to his research more effectively and make easier specialised selections of the materials searched for. For specialised researchers, the orginals are still available at the library.

In this framework, the Department of Special Collections has very stimulating experiences with the analogus optical disc which was produced in 1986. A selection of images from the most important illuminated manuscripts became searchable together with a text database in 1986. This increased the requests and interest in illuminated manuscripts significantly. Though only a small selection was made available on the optical disc, the images are rather coarse and compared to nowadays technologies limited possibilities for searching, it does allow the user to browse through the collection, allowing him to grasp immediately the complex and content of the complete set of images. Unfortunately, the analogus optical disc never became a technical standard for image storage and retrieval.

Widening access
Digital imaging of collections offers much potential to change research in the Arts and Humanities by providing improved access to (dispersed) library collections through networked information exchange. The possibility to simultaniously search several dispersed databases will definitely improve the results.

An image database only has value when containing a relatively large amount of images. Since in this project áll illuminated manuscripts will be digitised users will get access to many more sources than before. In this way, they also get better acquainted with all the different sources that used to be difficult to access. This new way of studying will open up new visions and ideas about a certain subject. It allows users to trace a complete development or the development of a specific representation, or to study the application of colour in a certain region or to study the artistic exchange between artists.

Expertise and work packages

Expertise
KB and Computer & Humanities

Project leader:
Drs C de Wolf (Head Collections and Research, KB)
Prof Dr J van den Berg (Computer & Humanities, UU)

Researchers:
Dr A Korteweg (Curator Illuminated Manuscripts, KB)
Dr P Alkhoven (Library Research Department, KB) coordinator
Dr A Leerintveld (Chief Special Collections KB)
H J Jansen (Chief Library Research KB)
Dr L Breure (Associate Professor, Computer & Humanities, UU)
W Smit (Chief Conservation and Optical Technology, KB)
Drs R. Tenback en Drs R. Kunenborg (Information scientists, Computer & Letteren)
L Sijtsma (Information technology and Automation KB)

Work to be carried out

Functional and technical specifications
A preliminary study is needed to formulate the technical and functional specifications based on the experiences of both institutions. Both institutions involved have at their disposal sufficient expertise about building interfaces. Computer & Huminities in particular has expertise in the field of historical database systems and they have a relationship with the educational programs in the Humanities.

Apart from these experiences, results from international digitisation projects will be taken into account: In this framework the following publications could be mentioned: Digital Collections Inventory Report (Commission on Preservation and Access, February 1996); Introduction to Imaging: Issues in constructing an Image Database (Getty AHIP, 5 October 1995); Historical Collections for the National Digital Library (Library of Congress, D-Lib Magazine, April (I) en May (II) 1996); Computer Imaging for Research, Teaching, and Publication in Art History and Related Disciplines, Charles S. Rhyne in Visual Resources (Vol.XII,No.1, 1996); RLG Digital Image Access Project (Research Libraries Group).

We will study the latest developments in standards (SGML,HTML), networks, cd-rom technology, databasestructures and retrieval interfaces.

Description
The manuscripts have been described in a database which will be corrected and completed. A description of the illuminated maniscripts will be included (content, location, date, signature, provenance, literature). The total number of manuscripts is about 550. All 6500 representations (iconography) have already been described: description of content, text, size and Iconclass code. The descriptions will be tagged with SGML.

Digitisation
6500 representations will be digitised using slides as intermediair. At this moment 4900 slides are available, an 1600 will have to be produced. These slides will be scanned at relatively high resolution in order to serve professional research. Scanning will be contracted out.

Implementation
The first aim is to build a network version. The production of cd-roms will be considered. Based on the functional and technical specifications, a prototype will be built with limited functionality and a test-set of 100 images and descriptions. After the prototype has been tested and adapted following the recommendations, the real image base will be implemented.

Validation of user surveys
Via Utrecht University and the department of Computer & Humanities there is a short link to research and education. Testing the prototype could be part of the educational program of the university. Students but also KB visitors will be asked to fill in questionaires which will ask them to give their opinion about, the interface, navigation, functionality etc. With regard to interface design and networked productions use will be made of the the experience built up in earlier projects: AIW, Hundred Highlights, DISKUS, etc.

Project management
KB will be projectleader. C&L will be responsible for the technical development and implementation. The project team, consisting of representatives from both institutions (KB-projectcoordinator and workpackage managers), will meet once every month. Tasks will be the coordination, planning and progress, information dissemination and reporting.

Work packages

WP1: Functional and Technical specifications

a. Functional specification
- provide list functional specifications
- 2 months
b. technical specifications
- decisions what kind of technology and standards
- design interface
- HTML (WWW) SGML/cd-rom
- Inmagic databases in WebOPC
- Determine specifications

UU: technical development
KB: standards, management
3 months

WP2: Description (setting up the database)

- adapt and extend descriptions of 6500 images.
- databases with descriptions in SGML
- link images and descriptions
1 month (descriptions)
2 months (art historical classification)
3 months (relate, concord and verify image/description)
3 months (conversion SGML)

WP3: Digitisation
- provide slides 1600 images
- scan: high resolution (archival) and derivative images) contract
- conversion and image processing KB
2 months
4 months

WP4: development

Computer & Humanities: technical development
KB (ITA) : storage and network management
- development prototype
- development network version and cd-rom
2 months
2 months
7 months

WP5: Evaluations, demonstrations and tests

1 month

WP6: Projectmanagement
Project coordinator: P Alkhoven KB
Workpackage managers: A Leerintveld KB, W Smit KB, J van den Berg (UU)
Steering group: C de Wolf, H Jansen J van den Berg
3 months

Access

Work package 1 studies the possibilities for online (WWW) and offline (cd-rom) access. Online access has the first priority for the databases of the collections. Problems with copyright and application of electronic watermarks will be dealt with.

It is advisable to create a cd-rom next to the online version. Images can have higher quality, browsing facilities are faster and the user is not depending on the network. For serious users in particular, a cd-rom will offer the best way for studying the images. Creating a link from the online-version to the cd-rom provides users with the internet version added with the extra facilities of the CDROM.

As soon as the online version is finished this will be announced in relevant media. The site will get extra attention in Alexicon II through the new button. The site can also be used for demonstration purposes at conferences and seminars. In case the prototype is finished and working by summer 1998, it will be presented on the occasion of the bicentenary celebrations of KB.

Literature about the collection illuminated manuscripts

De tentoonstellingscatalogus Schatten van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Acht eeuwen verluchte handschriften. C.A. Chavannes-Mazel en A.S. Korteweg. 's-Gravenhage Rijksmuseum Meermanno-Westreenianum/Koninklijke Bibliotheek 1980 [Catalogus bij de tentoonstelling in het Rijksmuseum Meermanno-Westreenianum 17 december 1980-15 maart 1981], geeft een fraaie opsomming van de negentig fraaiste handschriften uit de collectie. Een selectie is ook via een analoge beeldplaat (Dutch Royal Library Disc) met een iconografische index doorzoekbaar. Zie ook Honderd hoogtepunten uit de Koninklijke Bibliotheek/A hundred highlights from the Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Zwolle 1994.(http://www.kb.nl/kb/hrd/digi/digloc-en.html#a).

De verluchte handschriften en incunabelen van de Koninklijke Bibliotheek. Een overzicht voorzien van een iconografische index. Samengesteld door J.P.J Brandhorst en K.H. Broekhuijsen-Kruijer. 's-Gravenhage 1985.

The Golden Age of Dutch Manuscript Painting. Introduction by James H. Marrow. Catalogue by Henri L.M. Defoer, Anne S. Korteweg en Wilhelmina C.M. Wüstefeld. Stuttgart [1989]. [Catalogus bij de tentoonstelling in het Catharijneconvent, Utrecht en the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York]

A.S. Korteweg (red.). Kriezels, aubergines en takkenbossen. Randversiering in Noordnederlandse handschriften uit de vijftiende eeuw. Zutphen, 1992.

Anne Korteweg. `The History of the Two Volumes at The Hague', in: James Marrow, The Hours of Simon de Varie. Malibu, The J. Paul Getty Museum in association with The Royal Library, The Hague 1994. p. 241-246. (Getty Museum Monographs on Illuminated Manuscripts: 3).

Anne Korteweg. `Tellen en meten. Een kwantitatieve studie naar de zeshonderd Noordnederlandse verluchte getijdenboeken in de database van het A.W. Byvanck Genootschap', in: Boeken in de late Middeleeuwen. Verslag van de Groningse Codicologendagen 1992. Jos M.M. Hermans en Klaas van der Hoek (red.). Groningen 1994.