SERAPHINIANUS The Codex
Seraphinianus was written and illustrated by Italian graphic
designer and architect, Luigi Serafini during
the late 1970's. The Codex is a lavishly produced book
that purports to be an encyclopedia for an imaginary world in
a parallel universe, with copious comments in an incomprehensible
language. It is written in a florid script, entirely invented
and completely illegible, and illustrated with watercolor paintings.
The Codex is divided into a number of sections (each
with its own table of contents, the page numbers are in base-21
or base-22!) on subjects such as plants, animals, inhabitants,
machines, clothing, architecture, numbers, cards, chemical analyses,
labyrinth, Babel, foods... There are panoramic scenes of incomprehensible
festivals, and diagrams of plumbing!
The Codex is to that imaginary world what Diderot's Encyclopedia
is to ours. Obviously, Serafini was not just attempting to create a consistent
alternate world. Rather, the Codex is sort of an elaborate parody of
the real world.
The invented script of the book imitates the Western-style writing
systems (left-to-right writing in rows; an alphabet with uppercase and lowercase;
probably a separate set of symbols for writing numerals) but is much more curvilinear
reminding some Semitic scripts. The writing seems to have been designed to appear,
but not actually be, meaningful, like the Voynich
At is best, the Codex Seraphinianus is really diverting
and surrealist; at its worst, it is tedious, kitsch, and childish. This book
was surely inspired by the Voynich Manuscript and
designed with the spirit of Hieronymus
Bosch in mind.
THE CODEX Codex
Seraphinianus is a rare and expensive book, it can be ordered
If you want to see the Codex without paying that much,
try your local library. University libraries should have it:
the Library of Congress number is PN6381.S4 1983.
GALLERY Double-Click on the images to see enlarged versions
of the same. Click
once to make them thumbnail size again!
example of Codex Script
of the Fools
images above are of property of Luigi Serafini,
you can use them for your personal website. For commercial
purposes, however, contact directly the rights
LUIGI... Luigi Serafini is an Italian artist whose works
all tend to be unusual. He has had works presented in several
exhibitions, which works include paintings, sculpture and curious
objects (see below). Serafini teaches graphic design at the Futurarium Art
School in Italy.