Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts: Production and Patronage

Fabulous online course from ARTscapades looking at Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts.

Lead by Sally Dormer, Director of the early years V&A course, over two weeks we covered over 1000 years from the 4th to the 15th century however this was cleverly broken up to give an overview plus a rough chronological structure.

Week one started with an excellent look at how a medieval book was made from making the manuscript or writing surface, through the covers and the production process. We discussed who the makers were and the whole thing was illustrated with some wonderful contemporary images where possible.

We then moved onto early books made for the Carolingian and Ottonian Holy Roman Emperors in the 9th and 10th centuries. I didn’t know these works and the talk introduced me to a wealth of new images and ideas such as the attached image of Charles the Bald.

In week two we turned to the look specifically at monastic books which allowed us to focus on English production in the 12th century when it was at its height and the best in Europe. Dormer took us through the different types of books in use, again with wonderful illustrations, and how they were used. I hadn’t realised that originally books were made and kept in the cloisters which seems quite risky.

Finally we crossed the whole period by looking at the role of women in manuscripts from producers to commissioners. We met some fascinating characters I will look out for in the future such as Jeanne Montbaston, who produced books with her husband and continued the business after her died. Also Christine de Pizan, the first professional female author in Europe and the idea that there was a group of 13th century women who swapped saints lives, an early Book Group?