Wolfram von Eschenbach, Parzival (Bern, 1467), adapted by Johann Stemhein of Konstanz and commissioned by Jörg Fribürger. Manuscript. Cod. AA 91. Web (Bürgerbibliothek, Bern, Switzerland).
“The Berner Parzival”
This manuscript raises several questions since we know who commissioned, adapted, and scribed the new version, but the illustrator of the painted images is unknown. The story follows Parzival, a young knight and recruit to King Arthur’s round table, on his quest for the holy grail, while contending with a troubled heart. Eschenbach’s story (1210) is actually an adaptation of the French Perceval (1182-1190).
The two versions are almost completely the same except for Eschenbach’s interjections and the appearance and new story of the famous knight Gawain whose monstrous encounter is the focus of this section of the display. This adaptation of Eschenbach’s work considered this additional story as still culturally relevant, since Gawain receives a rather decadent two-page spread!
Of further note: as this is a manuscript, it was handwritten with twenty-eight colored pen and ink drawings done right onto the pages. In modern times the manuscript has been restored after all the wear and tear of time, leaving it unbound in flyleaf condition.
Sean Peek