A Short History of the Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

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Illuminated manuscripts are handwritten books that are highly decorated in precious materials like gold or silver. The use of metallic materials like gold and silver is what gives these texts their name ‘illuminated’, as they reflect the light. These handmade books were often on Christian scripture, but some early examples have survived such as the works of ancient writers like the Roman poet Virgil. Muslim artisans also created books using the same technique to ornately decorate their books, but the term illuminated manuscripts usually only refers to works produced in Europe on Christian themes.

Illuminated manuscripts were expensive to purchase, which means only those with plenty of money could afford them. Illuminated manuscripts were initially only created by monks in abbeys, but as the demand increased and they became more popular, their production became commercialised. The Book of Hours, a Christian devotional of prayers, was the most popular type of book, given that more Book of Hours texts have survived than any other works produced during the time.

It was between the seventh and the sixteenth centuries that the greatest examples of illuminated manuscripts were created, since by then the basics of illustration and decoration had been perfected. The best known, and probably the quintessential illuminated manuscript dates from c. 800 and is known as The Book of Kells. The Book of Kells was produced by the monks of St. Columba’s order of Iona in Scotland somewhere, but a precise location isn’t known (although there are many theories about its composition which place its creation in places like the island of Iona, Kells in Ireland, or Lindisfarne in Britain.

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— CHAPTERS —
0:00​ Introduction
0:54 What is an Illuminated Manuscript?
2:31 Materials Used to Make Illuminated Manuscripts
3:39 How Were Illuminated Manuscripts Made?
6:17 The Early Illuminated Manuscripts
7:23 The Book of Kells
8:42 The Printing Press and the End of the Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

— WANT TO KNOW MORE? —
Illuminated Manuscripts https://www.worldhistory.org/Illuminated_Manuscripts/
Twelve Greatest Illuminated Manuscripts https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1185/twelve-greatest-illuminated-manuscripts/
Book of Kells https://www.worldhistory.org/Book_of_Kells/
The Daily Life of Medieval Monks https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1293/the-daily-life-of-medieval-monks/
Interview: Early Medieval Irish Book Art https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1270/interview-early-medieval-irish-book-art/
The Printing Revolution in Renaissance Europe https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1632/the-printing-revolution-in-renaissance-europe/

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