OUR VIRTUAL EXHIBITION „JANUS PANNONIUS FROM HUMANISM TO THE BAROQUE” IS NOW AVAILABLE

What can a Latin entry in humorous Greek letters in an 11th century Gospel book tell us? Who and why would have had a small manuscript booklet of Janus Pannonius' letters made in the early 16th century? What did the user of a Janus volume think of the poet's epigrams? Find out in our virtual exhibition, based on the chamber exposition entitled „Janus Pannonius from Humanism to the Baroque”, on display from September to November 2022.

The collection of the University Library and Archives holds many documents that are not open to the general public, or only on special occasions. These include the 11th-century Byzantine Gospel Book of Janus Pannonius, which was exhibited in autumn 2022 to mark the 550th anniversary of the death of the humanist bishop. During his studies in Italy, the bishop made many friends and acquaintances with a humanist education, many of whom he kept in touch with after his return to Hungary, and his Latin poems were published from the 16th century onwards, first abroad and then in Hungary. The autumn chamber exposition, which was held in conjunction with the book launch, featured printed books and a manuscript related to Janus Pannonius. Our virtual exhibition now gives visitors the opportunity to browse through not only the Greek-language Gospel Book, but all the works on display from the 16th to 18th centuries, to spend time reading the texts or deciphering the owner and reader inscriptions.

Source/author of illustration: ELTE University Library and Archives [Exempla epistolarum Joannis Pannonij et aliorum 1.5.1.5. Coll. Pray. IX/18 1r]