ABSTRACT
The physical appearance of the manuscripts of the Legenda aurea and their patterns of early provenance are consistent with Sherry Reames’ findings. In addition to influence from non-devotional manuscripts, on at least one occasion a Legende doree miniature was influenced by a panel painting. While new iconography was derived from non-devotional manuscripts, the principal source for additional illustrative material was the text of the Legende doree itself. The tendency to turn to the text is most marked in large, well organized shops responsible for producing luxury manuscripts for demanding patrons. The illustration of the manuscripts of the Legende doree suggests that the text was perceived by the late medieval owners as lying somewhere between an aid to pious devotion and a repository of entertaining narratives. Reames expected that the responses, negative and positive, of the readers of vernacular manuscripts would be expressed in the form of marginal comments and glosses.
