Cambridge University treasures make the trip Down Under

The newly-opened exhibition, at the Victoria State Public Library in Melbourne, features precious examples from the University Library, Fitzwilliam Museum, Trinity College and Corpus Christi College.

Around half the works are from the University of Cambridge and its colleges, which together hold one of the greatest collections of medieval manuscripts in the western world.

The remainder are from distinguished public collections in Australia and New Zealand, including works from the State Library of Victoria's own collection.

The free exhibition of medieval and Renaissance works, entitled The Medieval Imagination, celebrates the art of the hand-written book or manuscript.

More than 90 manuscripts are on display. Dating from the 8th to the 16th centuries, they include examples of deluxe book production from Byzantium, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

There are sacred traditional texts as well as works of music, law, history, science and literature. These exquisite manuscripts offer a wealth of information on art and learning, and provide fascinating insights into the medieval and Renaissance periods.

Dr Gordon Johnson, President of Wolfson College, represented the University at the opening ceremony which was attended by the Premier of Victoria, the Hon John Brumby, on March 27.

Johnson said: “The exhibition allows us to celebrate two great institutions – Cambridge, approaching its 800th anniversary and the State Library of Victoria, now 150 years old.

“Both institutions have worked hard to make education accessible and to preserve and transfer knowledge. The exhibits are not just aesthetic objects but of serious scholarly interest.”

The exhibition at Victoria State Public Library – the oldest free public library in the southern hemisphere – will run until June 2008.