Illuminated manuscript: Difference between revisions

On the strictest definition, a manuscript is not considered "illuminated" unless one or many illuminations contained metal, normally [[gold leaf]] or [[shell gold]] paint, or at least was brushed with gold specks. Gold leaf was from the 12th century usually polished, a process known as ''burnishing''. The inclusion of gold alludes to many different possibilities for the text. If the text is of religious nature, lettering in gold is a sign of exalting the text. In the early centuries of Christianity, [[Gospel]] manuscripts were sometimes written entirely in gold.<ref name="DeHamel2001"/> The [[gold ground]] style, with all or most of the background in gold, was taken from [[Byzantine mosaic]]s and [[icon]]s. Aside from adding rich decoration to the text, scribes during the time considered themselves to be praising God with their use of gold. Furthermore, gold was used if a patron who had commissioned a book to be written wished to display the vastness of histheir riches. Eventually, the addition of gold to manuscripts became so frequent "that its value as a barometer of status with the manuscript was degraded".<ref name="DeHamel1992"/> During this time period the price of gold had become so cheap that its inclusion in an illuminated manuscript accounted for only a tenth of the cost of production.<ref name="Lovett2017">{{Cite book |last=Lovett |first=Patricia |title=The art and history of calligraphy |date=2017 |publisher=The British Library |isbn=978-0-7123-5668-8 |location=London}}</ref> By adding richness and depth to the manuscript, the use of gold in illuminations created pieces of art that are still valued today.