Origins of the Manuscript
The earliest known manuscripts originated from ancient Egypt during the Predynastic period. The sheets for manuscripts were made using papyrus scrolls, which were composed of multiple layers of flattened papyrus stalks. These manuscripts occasionally featured illuminations, which were usually created using pigmentation minerals or other natural dyes, watercolors, gouache, tempera, or ink. These texts were often used for administrative, funerary, religious, and educational purposes
The practice of illumination making was disseminated to the Byzantine Empire. Byzantine manuscripts were visually intensive, featuring illuminations that often sequentially retold biblical stories [1]. These illustrations would often span multiple pages. Byzantine illuminations were notable for their low anatomical dynamism and lack of depth. The primary purpose of the art was to communicate a Christian message, with fundamental artistic principles coming in second. This unique illumination style would eventually be emulated across Europe during the Middle Ages. Countries across Europe would incorporate their own aesthetic sensibilities into the Byzantine style, resulting in various illumination styles that were characteristic of their respective cultures, such as Insular, Gothic, Carolingian, and Humanist [2].
During the Middle Ages period, the creation of illuminated manuscripts was a practice exclusive to monks and nuns in the scriptoriums of monasteries or convents. The small percentage of the medieval population that was literate was often those who were a part of monastic communities. Therefore, most manuscripts that were produced were often variations of the Bible, psalters, Book of Hours, liturgical books, or other religious texts. Medieval Manuscripts were created by hand, typically from parchment or vellum made from animal skins, with the illuminations generally being made from gold leaf, metal point, natural dyes, pigments, and minerals [3].
Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in the 1450s facilitated the mass production of books, rendering the practice of handmade illuminated manuscripts largely obsolete [4]. While the advent of the Gutenberg printing press ushered in a new era for bookmaking, the influence of religion on book history continued, as the first thing produced on the printing press was the Bible.
Full Access to Gutenberg Bible: “The Gutenberg Bible.” Harry Ransom Center. https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/gutenberg-bible/.
[1] Davenport, Cyril. 1912. “Illuminated Manuscripts.” Journal of the Royal Society of Arts 60 (January): 245–51. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41339989.
[2] Anderson, Jeffrey C. "Byzantine Manuscript Illumination". In obo in Medieval Studies, https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195396584/obo-9780195396584-0237.xml
[3] Park West Gallery Artists & Special Collections. 2017. “Illuminated Manuscripts and How They Were Created.” Park West Gallery. October 23, 2017. https://www.parkwestgallery.com/blog/what-are-illuminated-manuscripts-and-how-were-they-created/.
[4] Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives. “Religion in Print - Special Collections & Archives Research Center.” Treasures of the McDonald Collection. https://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/mcdonald/public/religion.