Who made this?
The thirteenth-century saw a shift in manuscript production from the monastery to secular shops. Large productions like the Morgan Picture Bible required collaboration between multiple shops and artists. The Morgan Bible produces evidence that the work was distributed amongst several artists; this can be seen in the variety of preparatory sketches, indicating difference between those who designed the Bible and those who completed it. The discrepancies between preparatory drawings and the finished painted images, presumably show that the illuminations were distributed amongst several sources to complete it.
According to the Morgan Library Website, “A master artist can be distinguished, and he was responsible for nearly forty percent of the miniatures (fols. 12-29). He was a master of naturalistic detail, dynamic battle scenes, and elegant drawings, and he never used gold backgrounds.”
To keep an orderly process, a project manager would assign units of work to artists and groups. The master artist would focus on gatherings III-V; the designated middle of the book. The work of the master artist is distinguished by their use of alternating blue and pink backgrounds rather than gold. This page, MS M.638 13r, may be the work of the master artist, indicated by the blue and pink backgrounds.
Three other artists would focus on gatherings I and II. “The first of the three did folios 1,2, and 5-8; the second did folios 3 and 4, and the third did folios 9-11.” The final three artists would be assigned a gathering each; VI (folios 30-35); VII (folios 36-41); and VIII (folios 42-46).
The customary process of grouping artists is believed to be seen in the Crusader Bible. It still remains unclear who the particular artists were, for no works by them have been identified other than the Crusader Bible. However, it is clear that the completion of the Morgan Picture Bible was a collaborative effort.