Seite - 249 - in The Vienna Genesis - Material analysis and conservation of a Late Antique illuminated manuscript on purple parchment

Sophie Rabitsch, Christa Hofmann, Junko Sonderegger 249 The folios of Vienna Genesis differ in colour, ranging from dark brownish-violet to light brownish-rose. On all folios the flesh side is paler than the hair side, which absorbs the dye better, see chapters on parchment and purple dyeing. In addition, the purple can show darker and paler tones on one page. The folios were grouped in three colour groups (Fig. 2): - dark purple: folios 6, 7, 8, 9 (page 18), 10 (page 19) - medium purple: folios 1, 2, 3, 4 (page 8), 5 (page 9), 10 (page 20), 11, 14 - light purple: folios 4 (page 7), 5 (page 10), 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 The purple dye was identified as orchil, a highly light sensitive lichen dye, see chapter on dye identification. The practical experiments described in the chapter on purple dyeing showed that different types of orchil and even different batches of the same type of dye can result in various hues. In addition, the individual skin from which the parchment was made influences the colour. Variations in the dyeing technique can change hues as well. A range of external factors like light and pollutants have affected the aging of the purple dye. The edges of the folios frequently show brownish discolouration (Fig. 3). The changes were probably caused by light exposure; the edges of the folios are more affected by light than the inner parts. The original colour of the purple parchment is unknown, but fading is obvious on the Vienna Genesis. The comparison with parchment samples, dyed with orchil and exposed to light, shows similar hues ranging from reddish purple to brown. Colour changes were observed and documented in the early 20th century4. Folios of the Vienna Genesis were presented in at least four exhibitions in the State Hall of the Austrian National Library in 1846, 1901, 1913 and 1916, see chapter on the history. 4 Gerstinger, 1931, p. 29. Dafert, Austrian National Library Archive, record 775/21, 1921. Fig. 2: Three colour groups: folio 10 (dark), folio 2 (medium) and folio 24 (light). Open-Access-Publikation im Sinne der CC-Lizenz BY 4.0