Ink and gold: Medieval manuscripts conquer Eschborn!

Ink and gold: Medieval manuscripts conquer Eschborn!

What's new in Eschborn? There is currently a fascinating exhibition in the Eschborn City Museum that is a real treat for anyone interested in history and art. The show entitled “Ink and Gold – Fragments of Medieval Manuscripts from the Collection of Hanny Franke” opened on November 6th, 2025 and will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of the Middle Ages until January 11th, 2026. Hanny Franke, a 20th-century Frankfurt landscape painter, assembled this impressive collection, which includes fragments from the 9th to the 15th centuries. The manuscripts come not only from Germany, but also from Burgundy, France and Italy. Eschborn.de reports that one of the oldest pieces in the collection is a parchment sheet from the first half of the 9th century, which contains a commentary on the Gospel of Luke by Bede Venerabilis.

Particular attention should be paid to solid collaboration with the University of Frankfurt. Here professors like Dr. Kristin Böse and Dr. Sita Steckel identified and processed the fragments together with 20 students as part of a seminar project. The result of this fruitful work is not only the impressive exhibition, but also a catalog that presents around 40 illustrated pieces and was created by the Eschborn publishing house Gerhold.

A look into the history of the collection

Hanny Franke, who was actually baptized as Johannes, had a special feeling for the wonders of the Middle Ages. His passion for manuscripts led him to design special frames to display the precious parchments in his living spaces. What is particularly characteristic is the continuous connection to his baptismal name - many of the works depicted show John the Baptist.

The exhibition is enriched not only by the works of art in question but also by remarkable finds, such as the fragment discovered by Oleksandr Okhrimenko from Kiev. This piece offers insights into early liturgical reforms and thus contributes to a deeper understanding of history. It is fascinating to see how such finds, with the help of experts from Frankfurt, Mainz and Kiev, open up a new perspective on the liturgical practices of the Middle Ages.

Entrance and opening times

The exhibition is accessible free of charge to all interested visitors. The opening times are as follows:

• Dienstag: 09 – 12 Uhr
• Mittwoch: 15 – 18 Uhr
• Samstag: 15 – 18 Uhr
• Sonntag: 14 – 18 Uhr
• Feiertage abweichend

If you have any questions or further information, the museum team is available on 0 61 96 / 490 – 230 or – 233 or by email at museum@eschborn.de. Mayor Adnan Shaikh emphasizes the importance of digitizing the fragments in order to make the museum and its treasures known beyond the borders of Hesse.

So be sure to plan a visit to the Eschborn City Museum to see this unique collection of medieval manuscripts. Combining art, history and science, there is something for everyone. [Uni-Frankfurt.de].