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liadethorneggeSo, today I spent a few hours, after my class, cozying up to a 13th Century miniature bible from Paris. It's really cute, only 10x15 cm (and 5.5 cm thick). The text is laid out in two columns, with each book of the bible introduced by an illuminated initial about six or seven lines high. The lines in between which the text goes are 2 mm each, by the way. Which makes the initials only 1.4 cm high and about as wide. A few of the chapters within the books are also introduced by a larger initial decorated with penwork. (I learned the term of that kind of penwork today, but I forget.)
In a couple of the illuminated initials are only vines curling, but in most of them dragons and other animals frolick. I found one capital U where it looked like a dragon was having a bath in the basin formed by the letter itself. In another I spotted what looked like a camel. Some amusing things going on.
Anyway, I did not have the time to go through the entire little Bible; I was writing down the pages where the initials are on, which initial and if it has anything special in or near it. I've also noted those few places where the pages have contained a little "extra" illumination. I think there's been three or four of those so far a little more than half way through the manuscript.
I'm planning on coming back next week. Also, the manuscript I was tipped of about by Gro was wrong. Or rather, I mis-remembered it. I had to add an extra -e at the end of the catalogue number. I got a huge-ass book of psalms with basically nothing interesting in it at all. I was supposed to get a Book of Hours. Anyway, my mistake, and I suppose it got me started on taking some useful notes. As I said, I will continue on the lil bible I have now, cataloguing the initials, then I'll see if I can copy some of them for use as historiated initials on my scrolls.
Once that is done I will order up the manuscript I was meant to get - hopefully it'll have some cool stuff in it.
It was loads of fun today.
In a couple of the illuminated initials are only vines curling, but in most of them dragons and other animals frolick. I found one capital U where it looked like a dragon was having a bath in the basin formed by the letter itself. In another I spotted what looked like a camel. Some amusing things going on.
Anyway, I did not have the time to go through the entire little Bible; I was writing down the pages where the initials are on, which initial and if it has anything special in or near it. I've also noted those few places where the pages have contained a little "extra" illumination. I think there's been three or four of those so far a little more than half way through the manuscript.
I'm planning on coming back next week. Also, the manuscript I was tipped of about by Gro was wrong. Or rather, I mis-remembered it. I had to add an extra -e at the end of the catalogue number. I got a huge-ass book of psalms with basically nothing interesting in it at all. I was supposed to get a Book of Hours. Anyway, my mistake, and I suppose it got me started on taking some useful notes. As I said, I will continue on the lil bible I have now, cataloguing the initials, then I'll see if I can copy some of them for use as historiated initials on my scrolls.
Once that is done I will order up the manuscript I was meant to get - hopefully it'll have some cool stuff in it.
It was loads of fun today.
