Large Bindings in the Royal Libraries. 15th-21st Centuries

Isabelle de Conihout, María Luisa López Vidriero et al.

ISBN: 978-84-95241-92-4

Year: 2012

Pages: 352

Illustrations: 206

Binding: in Dutch

Size: 17 x 24.5 cm

Published by: Madrid, National Heritage and El Viso Editions

The exhibition "Great Bindings in Royal Libraries. 15th-21st Centuries" presents for the first time an exceptional selection of 250 bindings preserved in the Royal Library of the Palace and in monastic libraries of the National Heritage. These pieces, dating from the 15th to the 21st centuries, stand out as unique examples of the art of royal bookbinding, created for monarchs such as Charles V and Philip II, and reflect the technical and artistic splendor achieved in European courts. Beyond their luxury, these works have a strong symbolic and ceremonial value: they embody institutional representation, tribute to the monarch, and the perpetuation of knowledge. The exhibition reveals how bookbinding contributed to building the cultural aura of the monarchy and its surroundings. An illustrated catalog with exclusive photographs and essays by international specialists will be published to mark the exhibition. Edited by Maria Luisa López-Vidriero, director of the Royal Library, the publication offers a profound reflection on the role of royal bookbinding in European cultural history. The resulting work will be a fundamental reference in the study of the art of binding, its historical evolution, and its symbolic relevance in the context of royal libraries.