illuminations medieval manuscripts up until the end of the middle ages, when the art of printing...

IlluminationIlluminationss

Medieval ManuscriptsMedieval Manuscripts Up until the end of the Middle Ages, when the art of Up until the end of the Middle Ages, when the art of printing first allowed a measure of mass production, printing first allowed a measure of mass production,

books were made by hand one at a time. Every books were made by hand one at a time. Every manuscript is therefore unique: even when the scribes manuscript is therefore unique: even when the scribes and artists copied a model text or image, the result is and artists copied a model text or image, the result is

marked by their own taste and training, not to mention marked by their own taste and training, not to mention the wishes of their patron. The medieval manuscripts the wishes of their patron. The medieval manuscripts

that survive are also precious because of the mere fact that survive are also precious because of the mere fact of being old; they are witnesses to a culture which of being old; they are witnesses to a culture which

prevailed a long time ago (from about AD 500 to AD prevailed a long time ago (from about AD 500 to AD 1500) and strongly influenced the world in which we 1500) and strongly influenced the world in which we now live. In addition to transmitting the texts which now live. In addition to transmitting the texts which

interested people at that time, many of these interested people at that time, many of these manuscripts still provide much aesthetic pleasure, due manuscripts still provide much aesthetic pleasure, due

to their fine layout and script, and of course, the to their fine layout and script, and of course, the illuminations. illuminations.

Types of IlluminationsTypes of Illuminations

An illumination is a An illumination is a decoration of decoration of manuscripts and manuscripts and books with books with coloured, gilded coloured, gilded pictures, pictures, decorated initials, decorated initials, and ornamental and ornamental borders borders

Done as both ink Done as both ink outlines and colour outlines and colour drawings drawings

Now called Gothic Now called Gothic stylings stylings La Cité de Dieu by Saint Augustine, translated

and with commentary by Raoul de PraellesFrance, Paris, c. 1408–10

The Orosius Master and His Workshop


Illuminating is the art of Illuminating is the art of decorating books with bright decorating books with bright colors and precious metals so colors and precious metals so they seem to glow they seem to glow

An illumination can also be An illumination can also be an illustration of folios (Large an illustration of folios (Large sheets of paper folded sheets of paper folded numerous times to create a numerous times to create a booklet) and codices booklet) and codices


One common One common feature of feature of illuminations illuminations were large initial were large initial letters decorated letters decorated with foliage, with foliage, human figures, human figures, and sceneryand scenery


An independent An independent painting was called painting was called a miniature a miniature

Miniatures were Miniatures were always added after always added after the text was the text was finishedfinished

Many illuminations Many illuminations were miniature were miniature paintings or paintings or drawingsdrawings

Characteristics of Characteristics of IlluminationsIlluminations

In the fifteenth In the fifteenth and sixteenth and sixteenth centuries, people centuries, people liked to use liked to use illustrations of illustrations of fruit, flowers, fruit, flowers, and birds in their and birds in their artwork artwork Falcon Hunting in the Month

of MayBesançon, 1250-1300 Miracles de Notre Dame, Gautier de Coinci. France de l'Est

Types of IlluminationsTypes of Illuminations Many artists worked Many artists worked

with natural animal, with natural animal, mineral, and vegetable mineral, and vegetable mediums in their paint mediums in their paint

Especially prized to Especially prized to illuminators was a illuminators was a brilliant shade of blue brilliant shade of blue made from lapis-lazulite made from lapis-lazulite (a precoius gem) (a precoius gem)

Jewels were sometimes Jewels were sometimes embedded into the embedded into the artworkartwork

La Voie de Povreté ou de Richesse (Le Livre du Chastel de Labour) by Jacques Bruyant France, Paris or possibly Rouen, c. 1430–40 The Workshop of the Bedford Master


Drolleries were amusing human Drolleries were amusing human or animal figures that were often or animal figures that were often painted into the margins and painted into the margins and borders of illuminations borders of illuminations

Illuminations were often used to Illuminations were often used to frame documentsframe documents


Illuminators used real gold and Illuminators used real gold and silver in their decorations silver in their decorations

Illuminations were often written Illuminations were often written on parchment or vellum on parchment or vellum – The finest kind of parchment The finest kind of parchment

availableavailable– A specially prepared animal skin A specially prepared animal skin

Traditional high color and gold Traditional high color and gold was often used in illuminations was often used in illuminations


Illuminations were noted for Illuminations were noted for marginal Celtic designs that marginal Celtic designs that consisted of Interlacing patterns, consisted of Interlacing patterns, counterpointed by actual animal counterpointed by actual animal motifs motifs

History of IlluminationsHistory of Illuminations

The earliest illuminations were ideas copied The earliest illuminations were ideas copied from Ancient Egyptian artwork from Ancient Egyptian artwork

Illuminations helped influence later western Illuminations helped influence later western art art

They were often done by monks and nuns They were often done by monks and nuns Illuminations also helped contribute to the Illuminations also helped contribute to the

development of calligraphy and handwriting development of calligraphy and handwriting They began to be replaced by woodblock They began to be replaced by woodblock

printing in the late sixteenth century printing in the late sixteenth century


In the early middle In the early middle ages to illuminate ages to illuminate meant only the meant only the enlargement of the enlargement of the first letter or first letter or opening phrases on opening phrases on important important documents documents

Illuminations were Illuminations were at their peak in the at their peak in the late Middle Ages late Middle Ages


The most common The most common documents illuminated documents illuminated were bibles, prayer were bibles, prayer books, chronicles, books, chronicles, romance novels, romance novels, poetry, and important poetry, and important letters letters

The art of illuminating The art of illuminating flourished during the flourished during the Middle Ages and the Middle Ages and the RenaissanceRenaissance– CharlemagneCharlemagne

Noah's Ark, one of three roundels illustrating the opening chapter of Genesis. University of Pennsylvania, Walter and Leonore Annenberg Rare Book and Manuscript Library, MS Codex

236, fol. 30v

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/middleages/illuminations/projects/middleages/illuminations/illuminations.htmlilluminations.html

http://www.leavesofgold.org/gallery/http://www.leavesofgold.org/gallery/literary/literary02.htmlliterary/literary02.html

http://www.nd.edu/~medvllib/http://www.nd.edu/~medvllib/facsimiles.htmlfacsimiles.html

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