from manuscripts to the modern world - part 1
DESCRIPTION
HTAV Middle Years Conference presentation, 28 October 2011 - Part 1.TRANSCRIPT
he Medieval Imagination
From Manuscripts to the Modern World
Bethany Leong State Library of Victoria
What is in the State Library of Victoria’s Collection?
CDs
newspapers
maps
pictures
magazines
books
DVDs
videos
manuscripts
artefacts
The State Library of Victoria
Education Programs:
• Education programs run by State Library staff cater for around 20,000 students annually
• The Open Access Program offers a free excursion to metropolitan government schools which are considered disadvantaged
1
Medieval Calligraphy workshop
Our Medieval Calligraphy workshop includes:
• Brief introduction to the period and to the making of illuminated manuscripts
• Tour of Mirror of the World to look at medieval manuscripts and the history of the book
• Hands on workshop to create a piece of medieval calligraphy
Curriculum links
VELS links:
• The Humanities - History: Level 5: studies of medieval societies, using a variety of sources that record features of past
societies (including daily life, education, religion and culture). Use of primary sources, strengths and limitations of historical documents.
Australian Curriculum links:
• History:Year 8, the Ancient to the Modern World: Depth study 1, The Western and Islamic World,
Medieval Europe – including the way of life (social, cultural, economic and political features) and the roles and relationships of different groups in society and the dominance of the Catholic church.
Plus integrated curriculum links with visual arts
Medieval manuscripts
The Aspremont-Kievraing Psalter-Hours (c. 1300) 1
What is a manuscript?
• Hand-made book• Can be decorated or illuminated with silver or gold• Contains clues about life at the time they were produced
Medieval Europe vs. today
Modern map of Europe 2 Europe – late Middle Ages 3
Illuminated manuscripts
in society
• Recreational reading4Choirbook fragments
What were illuminated manuscripts used for?
• Religious services and duties
• Personal religious studies
• Recording information and legal documentation
• The study of science and medicine
Manuscripts in medieval life
Only a very small number of people owned or used manuscripts during the Middle Ages
These books can tell us a lot about medieval life
Feudal system
Warfare ReligionDaily life
5
Daily life
Lord and lady
• Hunting• Recreation• Training• Managing the manor• Attending church
Clergy
• Attending church (eight times a day)
• Chores: gardening, food preparation, scribing
• Study
Knight
• Hunting• Training• Gambling• Attending church
Peasants
• Hard labour – for the lord, business and family
•Food preparation• Looking after children
• Housework 6 7 8 9
The cost of manuscript production
Manuscripts were hand-made and took a very long time to make.
Many different people were involved:• Parchmenter: prepared the parchment• Scribe: wrote the script• Illuminator: completed the illustrations
and decoration• Binder and finisher: sewed the
manuscript into a codex10Pope Boniface VIII, Book of Decretals (1300s)
Making a manuscript
Vellum
Exemplar
Cover boards
Binding thongsBone
spatula
11
Common features and themes
in manuscripts
Miniature
Historiated initial
Decorated initial
Rubric
Border
Move on
Common features in manuscripts
Miniature
Historiated initial
Decorated initial
Rubric
Border
Move on
12Book of hours (c. 1420)
Common features in manuscripts
Miniature
Historiated initial
Decorated initial
Rubric
Border
Move on
Book of hours (c. 1420) 12