Now I’ve written the whole thing; for Christ’s sake give me a drink. -15th century scribe Hey everyone! If you’re a scribe in the SCA, this might sound familiar, but stick around. We’re diving into the artistic process of creating a 15th-century illuminated manuscript. Whether you’re new to this or just need a refresher, let’s…
At the Day of Judgment we shall not be asked what we have read, but what we have done; not how well we have spoken, but how devoutly we have lived.”— Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ Hey there, everyone! Welcome to the 6th episode of Jehanne’s 15th-century life in Bruges. Today, we’re diving…
Hey, all! Today, let’s step inside the bustling 15th-century Bening workshop in Bruges. In this episode we’ll take a look at the tools Jehanne and others used daily. You’ll discover the many materials that bring manuscripts to life. The things that were essential to this art form. Materials and ToolsWhile many elements of manuscript production…
“The apprentice sharpens the quills, fetches the ink, and ensures the vellum is smooth, for in these small services he learns the grand art.” Anonymous, French Manuscript (15th century) Welcome to another installment of “Journey and Art in 15th-Century Bruges.” This time we explore the daily life of Jehanne Bening. That’s me, or at least…
Humor often cuts through serious matters more forcefully and effectively than sharpness. — Horace, Satires Book 1, Satire 10, Line 14 Hey, friends! I came across something interesting today—a post about the history of memes. Naturally, my mind went straight to thinking about how far back memes might go. I was hoping for a fun…
“Where hands and minds combine, the painted word shines bright. In Bruges, masters craft the heavens in their works, making gold and light dance upon the page.” Anonymous (15th-century), on the Bening Workshop In the bustling city of Bruges, the Bening workshop stood out. It was a beacon of artistic excellence. This was during the…
“Bruges, in thee we find all that is fair: A city rich in goods and graced by air. Thy towers rise, like stories told in stone, Of grandeur, of beauty, and of a name well-known.” George Chastellain (c. 1405–1475) Hello, dear readers! Welcome to the first installment of my series, “Life and Art in 15th-Century…
Hey there, history enthusiasts! Finally, I gathered information on the early traveling scribes. I have wanted to do this because of my blog’s title ever since I started it. So, let’s journey back in time and explore the realm of itinerant scribes and the traveling courts that relied on their indispensable skills. Let’s begin things…
Hey there fellow scribes! Let’s dive into the fascinating world of calligraphy and explore the incredible women who left their imprint on history. In the captivating scribal world their strokes of ink dance across the page. While traditionally a male-dominated field, the art of calligraphy owes much to the remarkable women who defied societal norms….
Illuminated manuscripts have the tiniest strokes details. They’re so intricate I don’t see how they were made without a visual aid. Unless….they were created by someone who could naturally see with precision. Even in the ancient world magnification was technically possible. Crystal or glass lenses were known. But no deliberately created lenses have been found…
I’ve been searching all over the web for a metal pen picture I know is out there. It seems to have gone the way of some other historic metal pen pictures. If you’re like me you’re another scribe wanting to know metal pens and nibs are pre-17th Century. While metal pens and nibs have roots…
Mary And Her Baby in The Book of Kells ICYMI. New information has come to light on the Book of Kells. Specifically, it was created by more than one person and where they lived. Even a bit on how old the “new” scribe was. This is interesting to SCA scribes who strive to create in…
I’ve worked on SCA scrolls bent over my art table with my back or hands aching. And that is one page, not a quire or a book. My efforts are minimal compared to the manuscripts I emulate. Still, I wouldn’t want my work stolen or harmed. Medieval scribes, to protect their laboriously created books, penned powerful curses…
When I was looking at the Scribes of Meridies Resources and Exemplars web page I clicked on their link to a Scribal Pattern Book at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. This is a fascinating complete scribal lettering manual on parchment by Gregorius Bock. It’s Beinecke MS 439 from 1510-1517. And the great thing is I can access this manual online from…
Re-reading a modern calligraphy book, I noticed a comment about the Ramsey Psalter. I thought it was a strange place for the comment and possibly an error. So I went looking. The Ramsey Psalter is now in the British Library. It is an Anglo-Saxon illuminated book including the Book of Psalms and other devotional material. It‘s script is the elegant English Carolingian or Caroline minuscule used…
Years ago I entered my first competition with an illumination. In my documentation, I wrote about using tracing paper to transfer the image. One judge commented on my lack. I still remember how down it made me feel. The way I handled that, as I often did, was to go to the library and research….
My rocks for paint collection. Every year this question pops up in the scribes guild, “Is gouache period?” I use it because it is more convenient than making paint from rocks and plants. I get favorable results, too. But, how Medieval is it? I have a tangled answer. Unfortunately, it is a lengthy story. To…