Synopsis
The Seckau Gradual (Ms 17) features a rich marginal decoration with botanically accurate plant motifs, including bottle gourd and hops. These are depicted not merely ornamentally but as distinct, naturalistic forms. While the bottle gourd is a recurring motif in Augsburg manuscripts, hops appear as a local specialty linked to Seckau’s monastic culture. The illustrations reflect aesthetic preferences and direct observation of nature rather than strict iconographic tradition—an example of late Gothic book art balancing symbolism and realism.
