The Layers of Age: A Secondment in Prague

Maria Theisen

From 8 February to 8 March 2026, Maria Theisen (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Medieval Research, Vienna) spent her PAMELA secondment in Prague, working with colleagues at the National Library of the Czech Republic, the Czech Academy of Sciences, and Charles University. Her illustrated report follows.

Slide 1. PAMELA, 8 February – 8 March 2026: Maria Theisen (Vienna, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute for Medieval Research / Dept. Paleography & Codicology) in Prague. In contrast to the weather, her colleagues from Charles University, the Academy of Sciences and the National Library gave her a very warm welcome. Photographs of the library, the team, a medieval manuscript (XXIII D 138, 27v) and a view over Prague.
Slide 2. At NKP, I had the privilege of conducting detailed codicological examinations of the medieval breviaries formerly belonging to the nuns of St George, and therewith of gaining an insight into the centuries-long continued use of the breviaries: the layers of age! Detail photographs of breviary XII F 5, fol. 165v/166r, including a sewn-in calendar leaf.
Slide 3. Here some more impressions: details of manuscript pages, a marginal drawing of a man with a flail dated 1536, decorated initials, marginal sketches of animals, and rubricated text.
Slide 4. Performative perforations? Just one example of mysterious prickings alongside different prayers, to be found in each breviary from St George’s monastery. A photograph of the reading room and an open breviary at fol. 257v/258r with arrows marking the prickings.
Slide 5. At CMS, I had the honour to give a seminar on scribes and illuminators working on richly illuminated manuscripts together, and to listen to Cristina Dondi’s wonderful presentation of her project(s) on incunabula. Photographs of an illuminated manuscript and the seminar in progress.
Slide 6. Last but not least, it was a wonderful experience: I received a great deal of support and a cordial welcome to the team every day, for which I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all my colleagues in Prague. I discovered more than I had originally expected—which, of course, left me with more questions than answers. So: I’ll be back! Maria Theisen. Group photographs of the team in Prague.

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