The manuscript was a work of great relevance in the Medieval period. The production of sacred texts, in religious contexts, aimed to spread the Word and accompany the worshippers in their daily acts of faith.
Most manuscripts were made within monasteries, and the making of a volume was a collective effort involving different workers.
The parchment derived from the processing of calf, goat, or sheep skin. Calfskin was the most precious one. After the page was prepared by drawing lines, the scribes began transcribing the text, then rubricators added notes and titles, and finally illuminators decorated the pages.
The decoration of a manuscript could also be appointed to an external illuminator, who followed the client’s dictates on the drawings.
The presence of figurative illuminations not only enriched the book but also supported the storytelling, explaining the text through the images.
The use of gold in the decorations both celebrated the meaning of the scriptures and emphasized the wealth of the client.
