The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1906-02-28
EARLY %BOOKMAKERS
,THE FINE ART OF THE MONKS or
THE MIDDLE AGES.


That Were Marvel of SIKH and
Industry-Anslo-saxon Monks orig
mated the Roman Letter.
There is scarcely any error so popu-
lar. yet so unfounded, as that which
invariably attributes unboundcd indc-
leIlce to the monustic orders of former
days. To therh we owe the preserve
ton of literature, both in the pains they
took to perpetuate history by their Ia
bors In transcribing and by their dill
gence In the education of youth.
In the large monasteries n chamber
was always set apart for writing, al
lowing space In the same apartment
for other quiet employments also. The
transcrlbers We're superintendent 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-
cupied in making new copies of old
manuscript books for the use of other
monasteries, and by this means many
We're educated and our most valuable
historical records were preserved.
The Anglo-Saxon monks were most
celebrated rs writer's and were the
orlginators 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 he purpose Of general in
struction or for the use Of the converts.
Careless and illegible writing Is
therefore but seldom to be met with
among the remains of monastic indus
try, and when erasures We're made
they appenr to have been done with
the utmost care and skill. For this
i purpose the monks used pumice stone,
and they were also provided with q
punctorium, or anvil, to make the dots
and with metal pens for writing until
after the seventh century, when quilts
were brought into use, they being far
better than the metal pens then In use.
The ink were composed Of lamp
black SCOT mixed with water and gum
for use upon the vellum, paper not be-
Ing introduced until the tenth century;
hence tho beautiful ~distinctness, as
we'll 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 were in vogue anon the learn
ed.
With so many i~mpediments to the
multiplication Of books as were at
tendant upon their slow production in
this n 1t Is not n matter of sur
prise that the monks enjoyed almost n
monopoly Of this kind OF labor, as In
truth they were he only body of men
who could properly conduct 1t. 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 traliscribing, the materials of
which books were composed were
sources of great expense. The leaves
In many instances We're composed of
| purple vellum for the purpose OF show
ing Off to more advantage letters of
gold n silver. The binding was often
very gorgeous, although Of rude con-
struction. The prevailing covering for
books was n rough white sheepskin
pasted on a 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 md 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 n sometimes confused dec
orations. The art OF correct drawing
n II knowledge OF perspective cannot,
however, be ascribed to the generality
of the fantastic pictures by which illu-
minated books are adorned. Coloring
II 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 to embellish. The title on the
pages was formed of capital letters Of
gold and azure mixed. Illuminated pic
lures are Of II dazzling brightness, the
white predomlnatlng, 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 transcribhlg and Illuminating that
they We're sometimes obliged to intro
duce hired limners, although contrary
to the monastlc rule In general, but
such aids were seldom resorted to, the
monks being usually the only laborers.
The invention OF printing diminished
the Importance and annlhilated the
profits of writing, and In AGO that Of
engraving superseded the art Of illi-
minatinp- YorIr Herald