Unfortunately, the call for these stunning creations decreased as mass printing became possible and the literacy of the general public became more prevalent. In a society where communication could be long and laborious, these manuscripts became a novel way to spread religious messages and shed light on this grand art form. This made the spreading of ideas and artistic techniques far more accessible than the frescos and large-scale paintings that you would have to travel to view. Soon, they were clamoring outside the monastery to get their own illuminated manuscript or opulent prayer book to flash around at church.Īn unexpected benefit of these books is that they were, essentially, pieces of art that were light and easily transportable. Their expense and stunning beauty made them a sign of status among the upper classes. These manuscripts were often created as commissions for wealthy patrons. The name ‘illuminated’ came about as a reference to the decoration that often featured real gold and silver leaf that, quite literally, illuminated the page.
However, their use also extended to some secular works like official laws, deeds, proclamations, and the like. These could take the form of large choir books that were often used for liturgical reasons within the church all the way down to tiny but exquisite hand-sized prayer books sported by the upper classes. Monasteries are the true birthplace of illuminated manuscripts and the incredibly skilled monks who created them.Īs this may suggest, most illuminated manuscripts were religion-based and depicted scenes from the bible. Handwritten books may have been common, but it took a special kind of artist to handwrite and illustrate an illuminated manuscript, and these artists were often monks. The illustrations on these pages would serve as a depiction of what was happening in the text, so those who couldn’t read might be able to follow along. Illiteracy was widespread, except for the upper classes and nobility, so demand for written books was low. When these stunning books came into existence in the Middle Ages, there were no printing presses, so all books were handwritten. Illuminated manuscripts have been around for a VERY long time. So if you’re ready to dive into medieval times, let’s get into it! When we talk about hand lettering taking things to the next level, there’s nothing that does it better than illuminated manuscripts, and we want to tell you all about them today. They are said to have initially been created for Islamic texts, but the art spread liberally across Europe, and that is where we get most of the existing manuscripts left today. Illuminated manuscripts are highly decorated handwritten books produced by skilled artisans as early as 1100 AD. Now you might be asking, what on earth is an illuminated manuscript? Don’t worry we’ve got you! It may look intimidating, but if you follow our simple tips and tricks (and practice, of course), you’ll be executing the most stunning hand lettering in no time!įor us, the first thing that sprung to mind when thinking about hand lettering was an art form that began over 1000 years ago: illuminated manuscripts. From bullet journals to beautiful handwritten cards, some skilled hand lettering can really take writing and papercraft to the next level, and we want to help you do that. We are so excited to be exploring hand lettering with you this month. Hello Smart Art friends, and welcome to June’s blog! Illuminated Manuscripts: Hand Lettering as Decoration By Amy Hand
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