A Short History of the Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

Illuminated manuscripts are handwritten books that are highly decorated in precious materials like gold or silver. The use of metallic materials like gold and silver is what gives these texts their name ‘illuminated’, as they reflect the light. These handmade books were often on Christian scripture, but some early examples have survived such as the works of ancient writers like the Roman poet Virgil. Muslim artisans also created books using the same technique to ornately decorate their books, but the term illuminated manuscripts usually only refers to works produced in Europe on Christian themes.
Illuminated manuscripts were expensive to purchase, which means only those with plenty of money could afford them. Illuminated manuscripts were initially only created by monks in abbeys, but as the demand increased and they became more popular, their production became commercialised. The Book of Hours, a Christian devotional of prayers, was the most popular type of book, given that more Book of Hours texts have survived than any other works produced during the time.
It was between the seventh and the sixteenth centuries that the greatest examples of illuminated manuscripts were created, since by then the basics of illustration and decoration had been perfected. The best known, and probably the quintessential illuminated manuscript dates from c. 800 and is known as The Book of Kells. The Book of Kells was produced by the monks of St. Columba’s order of Iona in Scotland somewhere, but a precise location isn’t known (although there are many theories about its composition which place its creation in places like the island of Iona, Kells in Ireland, or Lindisfarne in Britain.
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- CHAPTERS -
0:00​ Introduction
0:54 What is an Illuminated Manuscript?
2:31 Materials Used to Make Illuminated Manuscripts
3:39 How Were Illuminated Manuscripts Made?
6:17 The Early Illuminated Manuscripts
7:23 The Book of Kells
8:42 The Printing Press and the End of the Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts
- WANT TO KNOW MORE? -
Illuminated Manuscripts www.worldhistory.org/Illumina...
Twelve Greatest Illuminated Manuscripts www.worldhistory.org/article/...
Book of Kells www.worldhistory.org/Book_of_...
The Daily Life of Medieval Monks www.worldhistory.org/article/...
Interview: Early Medieval Irish Book Art www.worldhistory.org/article/...
The Printing Revolution in Renaissance Europe www.worldhistory.org/article/...
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[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Have you ever seen an illuminated manuscript like the Book of Kells? Let us know which one and what you thought of it!

[@HistoryfortheAges]

The Getty Museum in CA, had an exhibit of some Illuminated manuscripts a while back.

[@spackretired]

In 2022, the Gospels of Henry the Lion were exhibited again in Wolfenbuettel (dated in 1188). I went there to check it out. For a time it was the most expensive book in the world.

[@mcsprungis9398]

“Just as the sailor yearns for port, the writer yearns for the last line.” That is an incredibly profound quote which I am sure the original writer would be stoked to know has struck a chord with another person hundreds of years in the future. Love the video, you have great energy, subscribed.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Welcome and thank you so much! We agree that that quote is very profound.

[@drkatel]

5:57 The notes in the margins are fascinating. Really humanizes the scriptorial monks.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

We agree. 🙂

[@stevenbrown9275]

I’ve never seen an illuminated manuscript in person, but have spent a lot of time admiring photos of them. Another excellent shirt being worn by Kelly and another great video.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for watching Steven!

[@inusocials6295]

I think those margins are hilarious. And also really humanizes the people of the medieval period. I certainly felt the same during a really boring class in school lol

[@victoriaolson8985]

I saw the Book of Kells exhibit in Dublin. They have it open to one (same) page for months. It was not a painted page, just writing and some inked lines that I saw. It’s actually a relatively small book, compared to our general assumption that such works were oversized.

[@noemidreispiel1481]

I have a copy of The Book of Kells and I pick up it some times to look at the pictures.From Buenos Aires.Argentina.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Nice! Thanks for watching!

[@domromano4117]

I wish you the best. Thanks

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks! We wish you the best too. 😊

[@REDPANDAZ777]

Interesting history!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

It is indeed. Thanks for watching!

[@MrDowntemp0]

Excellent content as always! I enjoy learning here!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jackperson3626]

Thanks!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you, Jack! We really appreciate it. 😊

[@enricamartinengo2070]

Wonderful, thanks a lot 🐾🌞☮️💫

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for watching!

[@regatta2k]

Wish the channel improves the quality of the Audio by bringing the microphone closer to the presenter. Thanks.

[@adamc1966]

Happy New Year Kelly...good to see you again.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Happy New Year to you, Adam! Thanks for watching.

[@Nusrich_06]

Brilliant video! Back in December last year I had the chance to do a viewing of Hereford Cathedral’s Wycliffe Bible, completed in 1420. It isn’t completely illuminated, but there are many floral embellishments in red & blue ink, as well as decorated capitals at the beginnings of each chapter and each book. The first of these, the letter “I” of “in” at the start of Genesis is gilt & fully illuminated though, and was a sight and a half to behold.

[@storykli5137]

Great overview and breakdown of the process. One question: what's the evidence/source material for the Church not adopting paper merely because it was not from the west? so much of the eastern sciences, technologies, and philosophies were first adopted and introduced and proliferated into the medieval society through the church (monasteries and universities as centers of learning) during this period such as medicine, astronomy, gun powder not to mention coffee that I find it hard to believe they singled out something as harmless as paper as something they wouldn't adopt merely because it wasn't of "Christian" origin...

[@deniseforsythe8965]

Thanks for asking that question because it is the same question that came up in my mind when watching this.

[@kristoforperkola6923]

Great video. Learned a lot!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Glad to hear it!

[@thefanone]

I really enjoyed this video. Very informative. Way to go team!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for watching, we're glad you enjoyed it!

[@Banana_man6785]

this is great information! Well done! 👍

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you so much! We're so glad you enjoyed it.

[@scurvyjoe269]

I have a copy of the Book of Kells, which has illustrations of the original manuscript’s folios when they were in their former glory. Or you can say what they would look like back then. It even has information about each folio in my copy of the Book of Kells. I also ordered the Book of Durrow on Amazon, and I can’t wait to have it delivered to my home! Also, I can’t wait to see the illustrations in the Book of Durrow as well! I’ll be sure to enjoy it! (These books are just reproduced copies of the illuminated manuscripts. I would never even touch the originals. They are that Heavenly!)

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Nice, enjoy! And thanks for watching. 🙂

[@VampireHeart518]

That sounds amazing! I was actually wondering WHY (or if) there aren't copies after medieval illuminated manuscripts readily available for purchase

[@LaGrammont27]

Yes I saw the amazing Book of Kells in Ireland, a real treasure. I would also like to see Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry in Chantilly, and The Book of Hours of Anne de Bretagne at the Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris, which is illustrated with all the medieval flowers in her garden and their uses.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

They are stunning books indeed. Thanks for watching!

[@hellofditties]

really enjoyed this video :3 the examples were gorgeous. i've never seen one in person but living in london i'm sure there's some nearby...

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching, and hopefully you get a chance to see one in person one day!

[@parisfrance6483]

Love the video 💯

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you so much. 🙂

[@HistoryfortheAges]

Just found your page, I am going to go through some of your videos. I teach History and sometimes look for good content to recommend to my students. I have a several lectures on my channel as well on the Middle Ages, they are more lecture style for my students.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Hi David, thanks for watching! We hope you find some helpful videos on our channel!

[@matthiaswille7137]

Especially the reference to female authors ( nuns ) I found very interesting.

[@richardmahaffey2957]

I saw Illustrated pages in Turkey from the 17th Century according to the seller. While not illuminated manuscripts these were said to be copies of books for students to study.

[@NP-gb5su]

Ty

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

You're welcome.

[@suzannecooke2055]

Since medieval manuscripts were written on vellum or parchment, would the pigments used also have been used as dyes?

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

For sure. They used pigments like yellow ochre, malachite, turmeric, and azurite. Thanks for watching!

[@ramoses5912]

I greatly enjoyed the video, paper (papyrus) was invented in ancient Egypt. 🤔🤔

[@DiddyWheldon]

Im researching brythfyths manuscript at the minute

[@salligraphy5629]

It should be mentioned that though referring to the Book of Kell’s as an “illuminated” manuscript, it does not contain any gold!

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

That's right. Thanks for watching!

[@nalrader]

I really appreciate that you use CE as opposed to AD in reference to the years most of western civilization has counted years since the supposed birth of Jesus.

[@terrysmith4831]

You just lost me using c.e.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

We're sorry you feel that way, Terry, but we have been using the BCE/CE dating system for over 10 years now. Here is some more information about why we use it: worldhistory.org/article/1041/the-origin--history-of-the-bcece-dating-system/

[@GlendaloughJewellery]

Theres no evidenve Irish monks had access to any previously produced illuminated manuscripts, the book of kells dudnt follow an established tradition. The first illuminated manuscript was An Cathach, produced by Columcille before exiling himself to the scottish island of Iona, forming the first of many monasteries built by irish monks in Scotland, England and Wales. It is a little understood anomaly of history, your video refers to European manuscripts, there wasnt a european manuscript heritage without Ireland and its monks leaving ireland firever to preach and educate throut all Europe. Salzburg in Austria is one of many European cities built on a site first occupied by an Irish monastery. Ireland was known as the centre of learning throughout Europe. The first time the term Europe was used was in reference to Columbanus, calling him Saint of Europe. The English sent their children to be educated freely in irish monasteries. The book of Lindisfarne was produced in a monastery established by Irish monks. "Saxon" monks werent taken seriously unkess they had been educated in Ireland.

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@Chungustav]

You lost me when you started using C.E. I don't need the anti-Christian signaling

[@WorldHistoryEncyclopedia]

Thank you for your feedback, but it's not anti-Christian signaling. It's just an alternative dating system that is becoming more prevalent in academic circles.