Illumination

As this week's study topic is illuminated manuscripts, I wanted to try to create my own illuminated initial. I chose a design that wouldn't be too difficult by Timothy Noad from the book The Illuminated Alphabet by Patricia Seligman (London: Quantum Books, 2004). The design is based on an initial 'V' from the Pericopes of Henry II, and is characteristic of the Ottonian style of illumination, named after the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III who came to the throne in AD 983, and during whose reign the art of illumination was restored to the former importance it had enjoyed under Charlemagne (Seligman, 12). Originally the illumination would have been executed in burnished gold leaf or size, and probably egg tempera on vellum or parchment. I only had watercolour paints at my disposal, so I wasn't able to fully replicate the experience of medieval illumination, however I was still able to form an understanding of the amazing, time-consuming labour medieval illuminators must have endured - this took me about two and a half hours, and my back was killing me by the time I had finished. Illumination also calls for an incredibly steady hand and control of your brush. My finished work is far from perfect, but I am quite happy with how it turned out all the same!