Illuminated manuscript

An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript, especially of a religious nature, in which the script is supplemented by the addition of colourful ornamentation, such as illuminated initials, borders and the like.

It is said that the illumination of manuscripts came about through the boredom felt by the monks in the scriptorium due to the repetitive nature of their copying. To entertain themselves, they first added mice or birds.

Their motifs are taken from heraldry or religious symbolism.

Techniques

Some of the techniques used are:

• miniatures
• strapwork
• gold leaf
• powdered gold
• Celtic knotwork

Famous illuminated manuscripts

• The Vienna Genesis
• The Cotton Genesis
• The Ashburnham Pentateuch
• The Rossano Gospels
• The Paris Psalter
• The Book of Durrow
• The Durham Gospels
• The Echternach Gospels
• The Chad Gospels
• The Lindisfarne Gospels
• The Gospels of Queen Theodelinda
• The Codex Amiatinus
• The Lindau Gospels
• The Book of Kells
• The Moutier-Grandval Bible
• The First Bible of Charles the Bald
• The Gospels of St. Medard de Soissons
• The Utrecht Psalter
• The Ebo Gospels
• The Codex Aureus of Echternach
• The Codex Aureus of St. Emmeram
• The Pericopes of Henry II
• The Drogo Sacramentary
• The Berthold Missal
• The Vatopedi Psalter
• The Paris Psalter
• The Cotton Psalter
• The St. Albans Psalter
• The Psalter of St. Louis
• The Windmill Psalter
• The Tickhill Psalter
• The Breviary of Charles V
• The Beaupre Antiphonary
• The Petits Heures
• Tres Riches Heures
• The Hours of Catherine of Cleves
• Ranworth Antiphoner