Introduction: A Modern Manuscript

The Vast Army: An Allegory by Edward Monro draws a strong visual and educational influence from medieval religious manuscripts through its focus on ornate illuminations and text as a form of religious education. 

The Vast Army is a religious allegorical novel that follows three boys who are divinely appointed by a messenger to lead an army for a benevolent king. The novel serves as a 19th-century reflection of past medieval practices and how they have evolved since then. Its religious content most likely informed its artistry, with the artwork in The Vast Army drawing strong parallels to European medieval manuscripts. The book's author, Edward Monro, was a Reverend who practiced at a Protestant Episcopal church. Therefore, Monro would likely have some insight into medieval religious traditions and translate this knowledge into his book. 

This exhibition will heavily utilize visual comparisons to show how religious illuminations have evolved from hand-drawn and meticulously ornate to more austere illustrations that are better-suited for mass reproduction. 

The development of written text has been greatly influenced by religion, from traditional manuscripts to the development of mass-produced printed books. The Vast Army is one example of the long-standing relationship between text and religion, with the novel being a 19th-century teaching tool for Christian doctrine. However, analyzing the allegorical narrative of the book demonstrates how the text is divorced from the more utilitarian nature of previous Christian manuscripts. Instead, the text more closely reflects the symbolism that is present within illuminations, with specific imagery being used to evoke a theological message.