Getty Museum video reveals medieval manuscript production process
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles has released an educational video detailing the labor-intensive process of creating illuminated medieval manuscripts. The video follows a modern artisan as they replicate each step in authentic medieval style. It covers the production of parchment from animal skins through washing, drying, stretching, and smoothing. It also explains the crafting of inks and pigments from animal and mineral sources, the preparation of bird feathers for pens, and the binding process using thread, wood, silk, velvet, and occasionally gold and silver. The video demonstrates the diverse manual skills required for manuscript creation.
Key facts
- The video was published by the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
- It shows a modern artisan creating a manuscript in medieval style.
- Parchment was made from animal skins through washing, drying, stretching, and smoothing.
- Inks and pigments were handmade from animal and mineral sources.
- Pens were made from bird feathers, prepared and sharpened as needed.
- Binding used thread, wood, and precious materials like silk, velvet, gold, and silver.
- The video is educational and explains each phase of production.
- Illuminated manuscripts required significant time and diverse manual skills.
Entities
Institutions
- Getty Museum
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States