Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-01-04
EARLY BOOKMAKERS
THE FINE ART OF THE MONKS OF
THE MIDDLE AGES.

written and Illuminated Works
That Were MarNeIs of Skill and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Monks Orig
mated the Roman Letter.
There is scarcely any error so popu-
lar, Vet so uufounded, as that which
invariably attributes unbounded indo-
lence to the monaStiC orders of former
days. TO them we owe the prescrya-
ton Of literature, both in the pains they
took 10 pcrpetuatc history by their la
borS in trduScribing and by their dill
gcncp in the education Of youth.
In the large mOnasteries a chamber
was always set apart for writing, al
lowing space in the same apartment
for other quiet cmploymeuts also. The
rrauscribers were superintended by the
abbot, prior, subprior and precentor OF
the convent and were distinguished by
the name of "antiquarii." These IN
dustriouS persons were continually oc-
cuPieI in making new copies OF old
manuscript books for the use OF other
monasteries, and by this means many
were educated and our most valuable
historical records were preserved.
The Auglo-Saxon monks We're most
celebrated as writers and were the
orlglnators of the small roman letter
used in modern times. The greatest
delicacy and nicely were deemed es-
sential in the transcribing Of books,
whether for the purpose Of general In
structon or for the use of the converts.
Careless and illegible writing Is
therefore but seldom to be met with
among the remains Of mOnaShc indus
trv. and when eraSures were made
they appear to have been done with
the utmost care and skill. For this
purpose the monks used pumice stone,
and they were also provided with
punctOrium, or awl, to make the dots
and with metal pens for writing until
after the seventh century, when qulllS
were brought into use, they being far
better than the metal pens then in use.
The inks were composed Of lamp
black SCOT mixed with water and gum
for use upon the velum, paper not be-
ing introduced until the tenth century;
hence the beautiful distinctness, as
well as durability, of very ancient
manuscript books. SO important was
the art of writing in those days that
1t IS conceded as many as 100 different
STYLES We're in vogue among the learn
ed.
/ With so many impediments to the
multiplication of books as were at
/ tendant upon their slow production in
! this manner, it is not a matter Of sur
prise that the monks enjoyed almost a
monopoly of this kind of labor, as In
truth they were the only body Of men
who could properly conduct It. The
expense of preparing books was pro
verbally great and large estates were
frequently set apart for the purpose OF
purchasing them. In addition to the
cost of transcribing the materials OF
which books were composed were
sources Of great expense. The leaves
In many instances were composed Of
purple vellum for the purpose Of show
Ing off to more advantage letters Of
gold and silver. The binding was often
very gorgeous, although Of rude con
struction The prevailing covering for
/ books was a rough white sheepskin
pasted on wooden board, with i'm
mense bosses of brass, but the eX-
terror Of those intended for church
service was inlaid with gold relics or
silver embossed on ivory plates. Some
books had leaden covers and some had
wooden leaves. but even as early as
this bindings in velvet with silver
clasps and studs were made as pres
ents for exalted personages.
Illuminating manuscripts was also
another occupation of the monks Of the
middle ages. although not confined to
them. for the greatest painters Of the
day diSdained not TO contribute to these
cumbrous and sometimes confused dec
orations. The art Of correct drawing
and knowledge Of perspective cannot
however. be ascribed TO the generality
of the fantastic pictures by which illu-
minated books are adorned. Coloring
and gliding appear to have been the
chief points to which the attention Of
the Examinations was directed The
neutral tint was first laid on somewhat
In the same mode as in the present day,
some portions being left untouched In
order to be afterward imbedded in gold
and silver The pictures represented
different subjects, according TO the ma
ture Of the book which they were in
tended 10 embellish The title on the
pages was formed of capital letters Of
gold and azure mixed. Illuminated pic
lures are of a dazzling brightness, the
white predominating, which, not being
an oil color, reflects the rays Of light
and does not absorb them. So much
custom had the monks in their labors
of transcribing and Illuminating that
they were sometimes obliged to intro
duce hired llmners, although contrary
to the monastic rule In general, but
such aids were seldom resorted TO, the
monks being usually the only laborer.
The invention of printing diminished
the Importance and annihilated the
profits Of writing, and in 1860 that Of
engraving superseded the art of illu-
minating-Ne York Herald.
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