Sources for Period Illuminations and Supplies
Basic information: color pictures; good for demos and displays
- Brookfield, Karen. Book (Eyewitness Books series).
- New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1993. Lots of pictures, ranging from earliest writing materials to modern ones.
- Fisher, Sally.In Colors and Gold: Manuscript Painting from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
- An Art Book
and Engagement Calendar 1995. Italy: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994.
- Fleming, Fergus, Ed.The Mongol Conquests (Time-Frame series, AD 1200-1300).
- Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1989.This excellent photo-essay called "The Making of a Manuscript" (pp. 81-87) uses illuminations from period manuscripts to explain the process.
- The History of Making Books (Scholastic Voyages of
Discovery series).
- New York: Scholastic Inc., 1996.
This book for children contains some nifty pictures
to explain and explore the history of bookmaking.
- Medieval Women calendars.
- These calendars sell for less
than $10 and contain beautiful color pictures with
short essays on various aspects of medieval women's
daily lives and contributions.
- What the Painter Sees (Scholastic Voyages of Discovery
series).
- New York: Scholastic Inc., 1996.
Only 2 pages deal with period manuscripts, but how
often do you see 4 pages from a heart-shaped book?
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General introduction, suitable for beginners
- Basing, Patricia.Trades and Crafts in Medieval Manuscripts.
-
New York: New Amsterdam Books, 1990. One
section in this excellent book deals with scholars and
scribes. The colored pictures alone make this a
valuable resource.
- Cherry, John.Medieval crafts: a book of days.
- London:
Thames and Hudson, 1993.
The chapters on scribes, painters, and illuminators
cover the basics; nine other crafts are also featured.
The colored pictures in this are gorgeous.
- Drogin, Marc.Medieval Calligraphy, Its History and
Techniques.
- Dover Publications, Inc., 1980.
If you buy any calligraphy book, buy this one. It's the
"calligraphy Bible" for scribes. $11.95.
- Gill, D. M.Illuminated Manuscripts (Discovering Art
series).
- London: Brockhampton Press, 1996.
This is a good introduction to important
manuscripts. Two chapters arranged chronologically
discuss the history of these manuscripts, while
another discusses how manuscripts were made and
the materials used. It contains many color plates.
- Wilson, Elizabeth B.Bibles and Bestiaries; A Guide to
Illuminated Manuscripts.
- New York: Pierpont
Morgan Library, 1994.
Buy this book before any other book mentioned in
this section. The color plates are beautiful. The text
is informative, thorough, and very readable. $25.00.
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In depth information: scholarly works
- Alexander, Jonathan J.G.Medieval Illuminators and Their
Methods of Work.
- New Haven: Yale University
Press, 1992.
Mostly black-and-white photos; the text is especially
useful for documentation. It covers more than you
would probably ever want to know.
- Brown, Michelle P.Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts:
A Guide to Technical Terms.
- Malibu, California: J.
Paul Getty Museum and The British Library, 1994.
Color plates and detailed definitions make this a
useful addition to any scribe's library. $10.95.
- Brownrigg, Linda L., Ed.Making the Medieval Book:
Techniques of Production
- (Proceedings of the Fourth
Conference of The Seminar in the History of the
Book to 1500). Vermont: Anderson-Lovelace, 1995.
This is a collection of 14 essays on all aspects of
book production. It is rather technical.
- de Hamel, Christopher.Scribes and Illuminators. (Medieval
Craftsmen).
- Toronto, Buffalo: University of Toronto
Press, 1992.
Many colored photos, some of unusual subjects.
Thoroughly covers materials used in period. Buy
this book before any other book mentioned in this
section. $20.95.
- Shailor, Barbara. The Medieval Book (Medieval Academy
Reprints for Teaching 28).
- Buffalo: Medieval
Academy of America, 1991.
The pictures in this book (mostly black and white)
are all of manuscripts in Yale's Beinecke Rare Book
and Manuscript Library. The author includes
examples from all periods and styles. It's kind of a
behind-the-scenes look at medieval manuscripts that
you don't find anywhere else.
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Technical information
- Anfuso, Linda (Megan ni Laine de Belle Rive). A Palette of Period Pigments
- Compleat Anachronist series, #43
Milpitas, California: Society for Creative
Anachronism, Inc., 1989. Written by an illuminator, this little pamphlet is packed with information on what pigments were used in the Middle Ages, where to get them today, and how to use them.
- Cennino d'Andrea Cennini. The Craftsman's Handbook (Il
Libro dell'Arte).
- Translated by Daniel V.
Thompson, Jr. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.,
1960.
Instructions for many different medieval arts, including varnishing, working with cloth, mosaics, and casting, as well as illumination. $4.95.
- Lehmann-Haupt, Hellmut. The Gottingen Model Book.
-
Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press. 1978.
This facsimile of a fifteenth century German model
book gives us a medieval master's instructions for
illumination and making inks and paints. [out of print]
- Thompson, Daniel V. The Materials and Techniques of
Medieval Painting.
- New York: Dover Publications,
Inc., 1956. Includes instructions for using many pigments, for
panel painting as well as illumination. $6.95.
- Thompson, Jack C. Manuscript Inks, being a personal exploration of the materials and modes of
production.
- Portland, Oregon: The Caber Press,
1996.
In addition to personal experiences, the author
includes recipes and instructions for making ink, as
well as a transcription of an artist's manual written
in 1596. $8.95.
- Trump, Robert W. A Brief Encyclopedia of the Materials and
Techniques of Manuscript Illumination in Europe
before 1650 AD
- The Potboiler Press, 1989.
With its alphabetically-arranged entries, this
pamphlet is especially helpful when you come across
in another book an unfamiliar term that the author
doesn't bother defining. [paper pamphlet]
- Weaver, Pat (Merewyn Sigrudsdottir). A Critical History of
Illumination in Gaul and France.
- (Compleat
Anachronist series, #10). Milpitas, California:
Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., 1984.
The main article is rather dry; it would have been
less tedious if the black-and-white examples of
illuminations had been interspersed in the text rather
than appearing afterward in the appendix. The final
article, on Parisian workshops, is unusual and
interesting; it describes the working environment of
medieval scribes and illuminators, which is mirrored
by Society scribes today.
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Medieval manuscripts available in facsimilies
- The Book of Kells; Reproductions from the Manuscript in
Trinity College, Dublin.
- With a Study of the
Manuscript by Francoise Henry. New York: Alfred
A. Knopf, Inc., 1988
- The Gottingen Model Book.
- Text by Hellmut Lehmann-
Haupt. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri
Press. 1978.
- The Hours of Catherine of Cleves.
- Introduction and
Commentaries by John Plummer. New York:
George Braziller, 1966.
- The Isabella Breviary.
- Text by Janet Backhouse. London:
The British Library Board, 1993.
- The Lindisfarne Gospels.
- Text by Janet Backhouse. London:
Phaidon Press Limited, 1981. $14.95.
- The Luttrell Psalter.
- Text by Janet Backhouse. New York:
New Amsterdam Books, 1990.
- The Manessa Codex: Die Minnesinger in Bildern der
Manessischen Handschrift. Germany.
- The Master of Mary of Burgundy.
- Introduction and Legends
by J.J.G. Alexander. New York: George Braziller,
1970. $25.00
- Medieval Health Handbook (Tacuinum Sanitatis).
- Text by
Luisa Cogliati Arano. Translated and adapted by
Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook. New York:
George Braziller, 1976.
- Old Testament Miniatures, A Medieval Picture Book with
283 Paintings from The Creation to The Story of
David.
- (Manuscript known as The Maciejowski
Bible.) Introduction and Legends by Sydney C.
Cockerell. New York: George Braziller, 1975.
- Prayerbook of Michelino da Besozzo.
- Legends by Patricia
Corbett and Colin Eisler. New York: George
Braziller, 1981.
- The Sforza Hours.
- Text by Mark Evans. New York: New
Amsterdam Books, 1992.
- The Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry.
- Introduction
and Legends by Jean Longnon and Raymond
Cazelles. Secaucus, NJ: The Wellfleet Press.
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Public collections of illuminated manuscripts in the United States
This list is primarily from the book, Bibles and Bestiaries. It is not
meant to be complete but gives some of the principal public institutions
that own and display illuminated manuscripts. Visits should be
preceded by a call to make sure that manuscripts are currently being displayed.
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Yale Universityc
121 Wall Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06520
(203) 432-1744
http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/general.html
The Cloisters (a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Fort Tryon Park, New York, New York 10040
212-923-3700
http://www.metmuseum.org/htmlfile/calm_a/m_apg27.html
The J. Paul Getty Museum
17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, California 90265
310-458-2003
http://www.gettyguide.com/
Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California 91108
626-405-2100
http://www.huntington.org/LibraryDiv/LibraryHome.html
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Fifth Avenue at 82nd St., New York, New York 10028
212-879-5500
http://www.metmuseum.org/htmlfile/info/info.html
The Pierpont Morgan Library
29 East 36th St., New York, New York 10016
212-685-0610
http://www.morganlibrary.org/
The Walters Art Gallery
600 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 547-9000
http://www.thewalters.org/collectionswag.html
Also, check with your local university; many university libraries have
medieval manuscripts (or pages from them) in their Rare Book Room
or Special Collections.
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Material sources
Where to purchase period materials for calligraphy and illumination
**Traditional artist's supplies**
The Gabriel Guild
6 North Pearl Street, Suite 404 E, Port Chester, NY 10573
914-835-7386 & 914-939-7269
gabrielgld@aol.com
**Period pigments**
Master John the Artificer
John Rose
250 Emerson St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
jartificer@aol.com
http://www.icubed.com/users/jrose/jartindx.html
**Iron Gall Inks**
Thompson Conservation Laboratory
Jack C. Thompson
7549 N. Fenwick
Portland, OR 97217
tcl@teleport.com
http://home.teleport.com/~tcl/
**Assorted Supplies**
John Neal Booksellers
1833 Spring Garden St., Greensboro, NC 27403
1-800-369-9598
fax 336-272-9015
info@johnnealbooks.com
http://www.johnnealbooks.com/
Paper & Ink Books
PO Box 35, 3 North Second Street, Woodsboro, MD 21798
1-800-736-7772
fax 1-800-736-7773
paperinkarts@aol.com
http://www.paperinkarts.com/
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Disclaimer: This is a listing of places where you can find information. It is not an advertisement or endorsement for any book, publisher, or merchant.
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