Illuminated Manuscripts

Definition

Illuminated manuscripts were hand-made books, usually on Christian scripture or practice, produced in Western Europe between c. 500-c. 1600. They are so called because of the use of gold and silver which illuminates the text and accompanying illustrations. Their production gradually died out after the invention of the printing press.

More about: Illuminated Manuscripts

Timeline

  • c. 500 CE - c. 1600 CE
    Illuminated Manuscripts are produced in Europe.
  • c. 500 CE
    Ambrosian Iliad manuscript produced at Constantinople.
  • c. 600 CE
    Codex Argentus manuscript created in Italy.
  • c. 600 CE - c. 700 CE
    Codex Amiatinus is created in Northumbria, Britain.
  • c. 650 CE - c. 700 CE
    The Book of Durrow is created.
  • c. 700 CE - c. 715 CE
    Lindisfarne Gospels created in Britain.
  • c. 800 CE
    The Book of Kells is produced in Ireland.
  • c. 1250 CE
    The Morgan Crusader Bible is produced in Paris.
  • c. 1275 CE - c. 1290 CE
    The Westminster Abbey Bestiary is produced in Britain.
  • c. 1324 CE - c. 1328 CE
    The Book of Hours of Jeanne d'Evereaux is produced in France.
  • c. 1412 CE - c. 1489 CE
    Les Tres Riches Heures de Duc de Berry produced in France.
  • c. 1440 CE
    Johannes Guttenberg invents the printing press impacting the production of Illuminated Manuscripts which are eventually replaced by printed books.
  • c. 1475 CE - c. 1480 CE
    The Black Hours manuscript is produced in Belgium.
  • c. 1510 CE
    The Grmani Breviary produced in Flanders.
  • c. 1517 CE
    The Prayer Book of Claude de France produced in France.
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