Shriya NevatiaMedieval Manuscripts Spark Imaginations
March 28th 2008 12:21
Whenever I think of Medieval Europe, I think of devout faith, witch trials, the Plague and beautiful, decorative, illuminated manuscripts... like the ones on show at the State Library of Victoria.
You may be familiar with these types of images - but do you know who created them? Often, this kind of art is accredited to an era and the artist's name remains unknown. In contrast, modern and contemporary art reveres the individual artist. Most books until the late Middle Ages were penned by scribes living in monasteries - functioning as part of something much bigger than themselves, they still managed to gain a high social standing from their ability to read, write and create stunning manuscripts. This was a craft that was passed down from master to pupil, an art form that required painstaking attention to detail. And imagination.
These monks had an abundance of skill, but it's their creativity that shines brightest in these illuminated manuscripts. Many of the earliest books from the Western world were religious in nature, so it seems fitting that those who interpreted and produced the tangible form of these writings were themselves devout followers. These religious men also created scientific, literary and historic publications too.
Transcribing texts from established versions, monks would decorate their pages with bright colours and gold and silver leaf - these beautiful illustrations are the 'illumination' part of the manuscript.
Walking into your local Barnes & Noble doesn't give any inkling of how precious books as objects once were, in the time before mass production. Treasured and appreciated as works of art, some of these Medieval manuscripts can be seen now - sourced from Cambridge, Australia and New Zealand, they're on show from March 28 until June 15, 2008, at the State Library of Victoria. Open 10am-5pm daily (to 9pm Thursdays).
Go. See. Get inspired.
Image from Flickr.com
These monks had an abundance of skill, but it's their creativity that shines brightest in these illuminated manuscripts. Many of the earliest books from the Western world were religious in nature, so it seems fitting that those who interpreted and produced the tangible form of these writings were themselves devout followers. These religious men also created scientific, literary and historic publications too.
Transcribing texts from established versions, monks would decorate their pages with bright colours and gold and silver leaf - these beautiful illustrations are the 'illumination' part of the manuscript.
Walking into your local Barnes & Noble doesn't give any inkling of how precious books as objects once were, in the time before mass production. Treasured and appreciated as works of art, some of these Medieval manuscripts can be seen now - sourced from Cambridge, Australia and New Zealand, they're on show from March 28 until June 15, 2008, at the State Library of Victoria. Open 10am-5pm daily (to 9pm Thursdays).
Go. See. Get inspired.
Image from Flickr.com
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