Illuminated Manuscripts
What is an Illuminated Manuscript?
An illuminated manuscript is a handwritten book that has been decorated with gold or silver, brilliant colors, or elaborate designs or miniature pictures. With the advent of the printing press, the art of creating illuminated manuscripts largely disappeared, since these ornate and beautiful volumes were expensive and time consuming to produce when compared with printed material.
An illuminated manuscript is a handwritten book that has been decorated with gold or silver, brilliant colors, or elaborate designs or miniature pictures. With the advent of the printing press, the art of creating illuminated manuscripts largely disappeared, since these ornate and beautiful volumes were expensive and time consuming to produce when compared with printed material.
Romanesque & Gothic Manuscripts
Gothic Manucsript
What are some of the differences between them both?
- Created in different time periods.
- The Romanesque manuscripts were more detailed than the Gothic manuscripts.
- The figures in the Gothic manuscripts were more animated and had much more depth.
- The perspective in the Gothic manuscripts became more realistic but still were a bit distorted due to renaissance standards.
- The Gothic art in the manuscripts had real backgrounds rather than flat surfaces like the Romanesque.
Writing Instruments Used
What were some of the instruments used to write with?
2. Quill- A quill pen is a writing implement made from a molted flight feather (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, the metal-nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen. The hand-cut goose quill is still used as a calligraphy tool, however rarely because many papers are now derived from wood pulp and wear down the quill very quickly. It is still the tool of choice for a few professionals and provides an unmatched sharp stroke as well as greater flexibility than a steel pen.
3. Dip Pen- A dip pen or nib pen usually consists of a metal nib with capillary channels like those of fountain pen nibs, mounted on a handle or holder, often made of wood. Other materials can be used for the holder, including bone, metal and plastic, while some pens are made entirely of glass.
- Egyptian reed pen- Egyptian pens were made from the Juncus Maritimus plant that grew on the banks of the Nile river. Egyptian writers chose thin, sharp reeds and shaped them for use as a precise writing tool. The scribe cut the ends of the reeds to allow the reed material to absorb the ink pigment (like a paint brush), and moistened the reed with water before dipping it into the ink to write.
2. Quill- A quill pen is a writing implement made from a molted flight feather (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, the metal-nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, eventually, the ballpoint pen. The hand-cut goose quill is still used as a calligraphy tool, however rarely because many papers are now derived from wood pulp and wear down the quill very quickly. It is still the tool of choice for a few professionals and provides an unmatched sharp stroke as well as greater flexibility than a steel pen.
3. Dip Pen- A dip pen or nib pen usually consists of a metal nib with capillary channels like those of fountain pen nibs, mounted on a handle or holder, often made of wood. Other materials can be used for the holder, including bone, metal and plastic, while some pens are made entirely of glass.
Writing Surfaces Used
What were some of the surfaces used for writing in medieval times?
2. Vellum- Vellum is derived from the Latin word “vitulinum” meaning "made from calf", leading to Old French “Vélin” ("calfskin").[1] It is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is a near-synonym of the word parchment, but "vellum" tends to be the term used for finer-quality parchment.
3. Papyrus- Papyrus is the most common writing material we have in our collection, and it was used for all manner of public documents, private letters and literary texts. Nevertheless, papyrus was expensive enough in ancient Egypt that it was often recycled and reused. Many papyri are written on both sides, and old papyrus were sometimes recycled as mummy cartonnage.
- Parchment- Parchment is a thin material made from hide; often calfskin, sheepskin or goatskin, and often split. Its most common use was as a material for writing on, for documents, notes, or the pages of a book, codex or manuscript. It is distinct from leather in that parchment is limed but not tanned; therefore, it is very reactive to changes in relative humidity and is not waterproof.
2. Vellum- Vellum is derived from the Latin word “vitulinum” meaning "made from calf", leading to Old French “Vélin” ("calfskin").[1] It is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is a near-synonym of the word parchment, but "vellum" tends to be the term used for finer-quality parchment.
3. Papyrus- Papyrus is the most common writing material we have in our collection, and it was used for all manner of public documents, private letters and literary texts. Nevertheless, papyrus was expensive enough in ancient Egypt that it was often recycled and reused. Many papyri are written on both sides, and old papyrus were sometimes recycled as mummy cartonnage.
Who created the manuscripts and what was the purpose of the scripts?
The purpose...
The main purpose of illuminated manuscripts was to preserve religious teachings. They recorded the Gospels from the Bible as well as prayers to be recited. As well, they were a way to preserve classical literature. The purpose was mainly didactic, or instructional, but the writers, often monks, used ornamental drawings to illustrate the messages and to embellish the writings. Until printing was developed in the fifteenth century, illuminated manuscripts were the only books available. They kept alive both the art of illustration and Western civilization in general during a time when Europe and parts of the former Roman Empire were being plundered. During this time, the monasteries were all that stood between civilization and utter chaos. The objects were considered as sacred, and were often lavishly and beautifully decorated in order to reflect what was considered to be the beauty of their sublime contents.
The main purpose of illuminated manuscripts was to preserve religious teachings. They recorded the Gospels from the Bible as well as prayers to be recited. As well, they were a way to preserve classical literature. The purpose was mainly didactic, or instructional, but the writers, often monks, used ornamental drawings to illustrate the messages and to embellish the writings. Until printing was developed in the fifteenth century, illuminated manuscripts were the only books available. They kept alive both the art of illustration and Western civilization in general during a time when Europe and parts of the former Roman Empire were being plundered. During this time, the monasteries were all that stood between civilization and utter chaos. The objects were considered as sacred, and were often lavishly and beautifully decorated in order to reflect what was considered to be the beauty of their sublime contents.
Lindisfarne Gospel Manuscript
The Lindisfarne Gospels book is one of the greatest landmarks of human cultural achievement. The Lindisfarne Gospel is an illuminated manuscript gospel book produced around the year 700 AD in a monastery off the coast of Northumberland at Lindisfarne and which is now on display in the British Library in London. The manuscript is one of the finest works in the unique style of Hiberno-Saxon or Insular art, combining Mediterranean, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic elements.