Illumniated Manuscript writing found its peak during the Middle Ages, and lasted up until the 1450's, the time when printing was developed. Monks in monasteries became scribes, recording religious texts and stories such as the Bible. They also recorded prayers to say during various times of the day into a manuscript called a Book of Hours. Some monks would spend their whole lives copying, drawing, writing and designing a book until it became a work of art. These books were often expensive, due to the high price needed to obtain the vellum for the pages, and the materials for the colors.
Illuminated Manuscripts were usually owned by the very affluent or to various cathedrals who used them during services. Jean, Duke of Berry had some 300 manuscripts at one time.
During the earlier parts of the Middle Ages, most artists decorated their manuscripts with lavish borders and flowers in the margins. However, as time passed towards the Renaissance, they began to depict entire scenes as well. This evolution of manuscript design parallels that of the art at the time. With the influx of new ideas, artists were defining their subjects more precisely, focusing on expression and detail. Manuscript scribes began to incorporate this technique as well. |
