Illuminated Manuscript

Preliminary Questions: Were monks the primary writers of these manuscripts? When did we first/last see illuminated manuscripts? How long did the books take to make? How were the books made? What makes a manuscript illuminated? Have we come full cycle? Scribe / Webmaster? How can we date manuscripts? What techniques are used? I. Vellum/Parchment Where did it come from? Why vellum? What was wrong with papyrus? How was the writing surface prepared? Process Preparation Chemicals Time to prepare

A parchment-seller's shop illustrated in a 15th century Italian chronicle. One man is trimming the sheets into rectangles and the other is rubbing them down with chalk in preparation for writing.

	II. Preparations for writing scraping Codex Folded bifolia - a gathering Making of a gathering How to fold parchment- an illustration Above: Parchment made from young goatskin. III. Marking and Ruling the Surface styli stick of lead ruled up in ink Lunar Knife for scraping animal skin. (Its name comes from the curved shape of the blade)
	IV. Monks - Scribes and Ink-Makers - Connection to today's webmaster Cultural social status cost relationship between artist and patron Technical creating ink use of colors writing tools sharpening tools V. Copying exemplars Implements of the scribes labor colophons   The ideal scholar-scribe in a study filled with manuscripts and the implements of his labor.

VI. Illuminators, Binders and Booksellers use of gold leaf - burnishing tool sequence of process binding process script VII. Function and purpose of illuminated manuscripts religious education / learning status literacy content of manuscript social As illustrated in Art

Hereford Cathedral Library: the best preserved chained library.