Illuminated Manuscripts

Decorated letters, painted borders and miniature pictures turn handwritten books into objects of art in John William Bradley's historical study. He begins with the purpose of illumination, then considers vellum, parchment, writing styles and the physical forms of books. Chapters follow Greek and Roman examples, Byzantine painting, Celtic ornament and the work of medieval monasteries before examining Gothic decoration and the development of national styles.

The discussion brings craftsmanship and patronage together. Bradley describes ivy-leaf borders, burnished gold backgrounds and changing methods of shading faces and drapery. He also explains how cathedral accounts, guild records and painters' journals can help identify the makers and purposes of manuscripts. Readers interested in book design or medieval art will find a detailed vocabulary for looking at decorated pages, alongside accounts of the workshops, collectors and institutions that shaped their production.