An illumination is a decorative embellishment added to handwritten manuscripts before the invention of the printing press. It enhances pages with gold leaf, silver, or other colors. Illuminated letters were enlarged and colored at the start of paragraphs to draw attention. Images of animals, plants, or mythical creatures were sometimes incorporated into the letters. Monks and nuns created illuminated manuscripts in monasteries, adding illuminations to important documents by request of royalty or religious leaders to make them appear more significant. The tradition originated in ancient Egypt and continued for hundreds of years in medieval Europe. Creating illuminations required specialized roles of parchment maker, scribe, illuminator, and bookbinder working together. Illuminations highlighted a time when reading

1. Illuminated Letters

2. What is an illumination?
• Strictly speaking, illumination is
decoration which uses gold, gold leaf
or silver;
• However, the term is often used
loosely to mean decorated or
illustrated. So . . .

3. What is an illumination?
An illumination
is an
embellishment,
or additional
decoration
that enhances
the written
page.

4. Illumination
• The term, illumination comes from
the term Illuminate, or to fill with
light.
• The effect of light is achieved with the
application of gold leaf to the letters
and images, which reflect light and
appear to glow.

5. An illuminated letter
• was usually the first letter of a
page or paragraph.
• It was always enlarged and in
color with gold applied in
areas, while the rest of
• the text remained black.

7. Images used to
enhance letters
Animals
Plants and
Mythological creatures

8. These images
were modified
to fit into or
around the
letter

9. In some cases
The image
took on the
shape of
the letter
itself.

10. Throughout the Middle Ages
all documents and books were
handwritten. Called "manuscripts" -
from the Latin words for hand (manu)
writing (script)
”Manuscripts" were
produced before
printing ushered in the
European Renaissance.

11. Writing and books were in the
hands of the literate nobility,
merchant upper class and the
church.
Most books were made by
monks and nuns in a
monastic scriptorium, the
room(s) reserved for
producing books.

12. Because the recording of
historical events was such
an important task,
illuminations were
ordered by Kings and
religious leaders to be
added to various pages in
order to add interest and
importance to their
appearance.

13. When were illuminations made?

14. When were illuminations made?
The Egyptians were the first
culture known to document
events by use of Illuminated
Manuscripts.
One of the most famous being
the Book Of The Dead that
dates back to 1310 B.C..

15. As written languages developed,
various countries adopted the
idea of illuminating their
manuscripts.
The tradition was carried on for
hundreds of years into Medieval
Europe during the Middle Ages.

16. By the 7th century,
Illuminations became
a highly respected Art
form.
At this time some of the most
beautiful and famous
illuminations were now being
created in Ireland and
England.

17. Who was needed to create
illuminations?
1. a parchementer to
make the parchment
from the animal skin

18. Who was needed to create
illuminations?
2. a scribe to do the
calligraphy (from
the Greek
beautiful [Kalli]
writing [graphia])

19. Who was needed to create
illuminations?
3. an illuminator who
actually created the
illuminated letters
and other decorations
on each page.

20. Who was needed to create
illuminations?
4. a bookbinder to sew
the individual pages
into a book format and
make the leather
binding.

21. Importance of Illuminations
Illuminations defined a time in history
when the ability to read was sacred
and reserved for religious leaders or
those born of royal blood.
Because it took great skill to create
such items of beauty and because these
creations were so important, it was a
great time in history for artists! For
without their skills and talents such
beautiful images might not have ever
existed!

22. A Few Examples: