Italian Renaissance Scrolls

Layout technique
based on a style of scrolls popular in
Naples and Florence
1464-1500.
by Maitresse Yvianne de Castel d'Avignon, OL - Æthelmearc
(Formerly known as Eibhlin ni Chaoimh)

Anyone who can draw lines and circles can produce an Italian Renaissance scroll. At first glance they seem extremely complicated, but when you break the layout down into its components, they are really more tedious than anything else. The key is in a well balanced layout.

The basic design is a series of rectangles filled with symmetrical acanthus (highly stylized plant) patterns. Jewels and miniatures are added to personalize each piece and add visual interest.

After you have decided on the size of scroll you will be doing, decide where you want your illumination and how much space you can actually devote to it. Divide your area to be illuminated into a series of rectangles. A thin band of gold or strings of pearls and gemstones can frame any, all, or none of these rectangles depending on your mood. The time to decide this is now.

Gemstones

Miniatures and clusters of gemstones and set jewels are prolific in this style. It is not uncommon to find seven or more portraits painted into the borders. They are usually surrounded by a gold oval, circle or another shape based on rounded edges. A single portrait in the margin may look good, but add a cluster of jewels and pearls to either side of it (or around the edges) to fill up the space with interesting detail. Jewels and pearls were abundant in strands around the rectangles, as a frame around the calligraphy, or as an integral part of the illumination itself.

If you do not have the skill or confidence to paint miniatures, they can be totally replaced with gemstones. Remember.....the larger you make a single gemstone, the more accurate you have to be with your painting technique.

Little mistakes "whisper" in little gems.
Big mistakes "scream out" from big gems.

If you are replacing miniatures, use a cluster of jewels rather than a single large stone...
unless you are well practiced.

Symmetry

Stencils are your friends !!!! Circles, ovals and French curves especially. Divide your rectangles into two equal sections. Whatever you draw on one side of this line, you will mirror on the other.

Acanthus vines

Acanthus can, and do, twist around anything, including itself. Tips can pretty much start wherever you want them to. The stems follow your layout lines. Being as this is a "living" plant, it has to have a logical base or place to root from. They can issue from behind jewels (fig. 4), from existing acanthus branches (fig. 5), or from designs along the center line (fig. 6). They can grow up, down, or sideways.

These are only the basics of layout. Everything you have done so far should be done in pencil.

Do your calligraphy before you go any further

Up to this point you have put in several hours of work. If you make a mistake now you can always copy the layout without much trouble. It would be a shame to put 30 or more hours into painting this scroll only to ruin it all with a calligraphy mistake.

Calligraphy should be done in a Humanistic or Italic hand.

You may print a copy of the images on this page to practice on, but please don't turn them into clip art.
For an example and more information on this style in general click here.
If you need more specifics on this style, feel free to contact me.