02. MEDIEVAL AMNUSCRIPTS AND THE INVENTION OF THE PRINTING PRESS

Medieval Manuscripts

• Created by hand in the scriptoriums of monasteries, which became vital in preserving knowledge and religiious tests during the Middle AGes

• These crafted books, often adorned with intricate illustrations and illuminated letters, required months or years to produce

Middle Ages

• Refers to the period in Europe from the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD to the start of Renaissance in 14th century.

• Scholars often call this the “medieval period” because it suggest an unimportant gap between two major eras

• Classical antiquity

• Modern period

TWO MAJOR ERAS OF MEDIEVAL PERIOD OR MIDDLE AGES

1. Early

2. High

3. Late Middle Ages

DIVISION OF MEDIEVAL PERIOD OR MIDDLE AGES

The Church

MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• It has became the most powerful institution, with kings and queens drawing much of their authority from it

• After Rome fell, Europe had no central government

• People had to give 10% of their earnings to it

• Mostly free from taxes

• Taxes made it wealthy and influential

Feudalism

MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

Society was mostly rural and operated under a system called _____.

Fiefs

FEUDALISM - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• The land that the kinds give to noblemen and bishops during Middle Ages

• Noblemen who owned these built castles and palaces to showcase their wealth and provide security

Serfs

FEUDALISM - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• They were allowed to live on land

• Protected from invaders

• Also called “peasant’s” during the Middle Ages

Medieval Cities

MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• By the 11th century, during the high and late middle ages, rural life began to change

• New farming tools and techniques meant fewer workers were needed

• More population led more people to move to towns and citites

• The rise of towns were influenced by Viking Invasions, prompted villages to build walls and castles for protection

• Medieval walled cities began to emerge with homes, shops, and churches inside the walls

Daily Life

MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• Population of Europe during High Middle Ages: 80M by 1347.

• Most people lived in rural areas, but towns were growing.

• Peasants worked for nobles, while town dwellers were merchants or artisans organized into guilds.

• Social class greatly affected daily life, with nobility living in far more comfort than peasants.

• Nobles had large households with various roles, like butlers and falconers, while their leisure activities included hunting, chess, and music.

• Nobles also enjoyed grand feasts, where they ate roast meats and exotic foods.

• Another important part of noble life was the "enclosed garden," a space used for socializing and relaxation.

• Meanwhile, taverns were popular gathering spots for men, especially merchants, who formed the early middle class.

• Medieval taverns were simple, dark, and rustic, a style still seen today in some Central European countries.

Illuminated Manuscripts

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• During one of the darkest periods in history, marked by plague, fear, witch hunts, and widespread illiteracy, most people lived short lives and rarely traveled far from home.

• Despite these challenges, in the cold, dim scriptoria of monasteries, scribes created some of the most beautiful books ever made, known as ______. T

• hese manuscripts, decorated with intricate designs, initials, borders, and illustrations, were often religious texts, though secular works also appeared later.

Illuminated Manuscripts

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• These were created between the 4th and 15th centuries, primarily in Europe.

• Scribes used parchment or vellum, and the process of illumination-adding gold, silver, and detailed artwork-was expensive, so it was usually reserved for special books.

• Wealthy individuals often commissioned personal prayer books called "books of hours."

• The manuscripts were written by hand, with scribes using quill or reed pens.

• Over time, writing styles evolved from Roman letters to cursive scripts and Gothic styles.

Books of Hours

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

Personal prayer books that wealthy individuals commisioned during the Middle Ages.

Scriptorium

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• It was a dedicated space for copying illuminated manuscripts, and the process was labor-intensive, often taking multiple lifetimes to complete one work.

• Early manuscripts were mainly religious, but as time passed, more secular works were also illuminated.

1. Insular Carolingian

2. Ottonian

3. Romanesque

4. Gothic styles

CLASSIFICATION OF ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS BASED ON THE AST HISTORIANS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

Carolingian style

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• This style is linked to Charlemagne's court, where book design and production were revived.

• Manuscripts from this era were made for both royal and religious use, and production extended beyond monasteries to secular workshops.

• Written in Caroline minuscule, these manuscripts had a classical style, often featuring gold or silver ink on purple vellum.

• They combined two-dimensional ornamentation with a greater sense of depth in figures.

• The Old Testament was a favored subject due to its political appeal to the court.

• One notable Carolingian manuscript is the Utrecht Psalter (c. 820-830 AD).

Ottonian style (960-1060)

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• It was originated in the Saxon emperors' courts.

• Popular texts included Gospel books, pericopes, and the Apocalypse.

• Influenced by Byzantium, Ottonian manuscripts featured burnished gold backgrounds and large-eyed figures in rigid, formal poses.

Romanesque style (c. 1000-1200)

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• It was international and widespread, producing a variety of books, such as large Bibles, theological works, and Psalters.

• Increased monasticism led to the creation of larger books for public use.

• Romanesque manuscripts were characterized by grotesques, textured or gold backgrounds, and historiated initials-decorated initials combined with figures or illustrations.

• The Winchester Bible (c. 1150-1200 AD) is a well-known example.

Gothic style (c. 1150 onwards)

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• It was also international, with an increased demand for books due to the rise of universities.

• Became smaller and more intricate, with illustrations integrated into the text.

• Features included bas de page (illustrations at the bottom of pages) and decorative ivy leaf scrolls.

• By the mid-14th century, illustrators began creating original, more naturalistic images.

• The Limbourg Brothers are famous for their Gothic manuscripts, created for the Duc de Berry in the 15th century.

Book of Hours

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• It was a popular type of illuminated manuscript used for Christian worship, with prayers, psalms, and illustrations.

• These books, made for laypeople, were often customized, and the Limbourg Brothers created the most famous examples.

antiphonal

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• It is a large-format book used by choirs during church services, containing sung responses and other parts of the mass.

• These books were arranged according to the liturgical year, with historiated initials introducing key elements.

diminuendo

ARTISTRY IN MANUSCRIPTS - MEDIEVAL PERIOD (MIDDLE AGES)

• In typography, it is the gradual reduction of letter size from a large initial to body text, creating a smooth transition.

• This technique, along with decorated initials, remains a captivating design feature in contemporary editorial design inspired by illuminated manuscripts.