Gold Leaf

Gold Leaf (nature's walk home) - Pearl River, N.Y. (April 2015)

Many years ago, when I was an apprenticed hopeful seeking enlightenment at the real-life "Hogwart's" that is the Rhode Island School of Design, I remember taking an art history class for relief. Why, you ask? Well, long before there were things like dual Liberal Arts/Illustration majors existing concurrently between Brown and RISD, this young Illuminator took a full major of liberal arts classes at a SUNY school cheaply before specializing at one of the hardest schools on the planet, in the studio classes needed to enter our hallowed halls of publishing. 

I got a lot of ribbing for being on the "5 year" plan because I lost all of my SUNY studio art credits (RISD does not accept other school's ideas about "studio" and "art"), though I could have earned two degrees in four years if I remained in the 2:1 program that Oneonta had back then with F.I.T., but it was far too late for that: I saw the Chi Ro* page in a darkened SUNY art history class and I was done, especially after me and my college boyfriend took a trip to Dublin in the 90's. Gutenberg bibles in the real at Trinity? Done! I knew it, so I took the snide comments in stride, just like I always have and I always will.

Detail from the Book of Kells "Chi Ro" page.

And so, I found myself with three part-time jobs and a fully loaded studio curriculum (with the odd house painting job or two me and my fellow Yankee housemate Riddell put into the mix during one summer session in Providence), something which I think remains untouched as a feat, or at least I hope so. It was insane. You see, during the school's calendar year, studio classes are full 3-4 hour long labs that do not include the required out of class homework assignments. Oh. It was rad and intense and sometimes I had night sweats with baby freak outs (I'm still convinced the historic house we rented back then is totally haunted, stressful breakouts aside), but I regret it not one bit. 

Anywho, when I wanted an easy "A" coupled with the blissful ease of a simple mutiple-choice exam and an essay composed of my thoughts, I sometimes took a liberal arts class just for the relief of it, and like everything else in my good life, I am so glad that I did. It was there in another dark classroom filled with the bright slides of art that I learned about the concept of "intrinsic value" attached the the highly valued pigments from illuminators of yore, and why a leaf so golden it looks unreal stopped me cold on one of my walks home from this small public library in New York that I now write to you from. Because it's all connected, dudes, and that totally blows my mind. Time travel is a real thing, man! Join me in my quest, the quest for truth and knowledge.  
Seekers, welcome: http://www.risd.edu/academics/havc/courses/.

http://www.museumsassociation.org/collections/16022015-research-and-conservation-of-illuminated-manuscripts

*https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Chi+Ro

Pangur Bán

Scriptoriums were the elite universities of their day. Clergy often came from wealthy families, because a religious leader serves as a conduit to political power as well. An abbey houses the greatest intellectual, scientific and creative minds of the day. There would be gardens, bakeries, stables, a medical lab, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, each kind of craftsman and artisan, with the most current libraries and sophisticated technologies from every corner of the earth. 

Benedictine Abbey of Reichenau

These were the junctures for great minds to meet, where kindred spirits and brethren from the most advanced, thriving civilizations came to work. Illuminators from all corners of the known world would come there to speak, write and talk in any language that would best convey the massive amounts of information that passed through their hands. So when I come across a piece that shows their softer, more human side, it warms me through. A rich spiritual life is quite the opposite of loneliness. It's a busy productive life with many obligations and duties—quite earthy, in stark contrast to typically held ideas regarding those who live a life with a higher calling. Around the time illuminated manuscripts flourished, abbeys were hot spots indeed. Not only would the clergy and workers be international, but so would the travellers, missionaries, emissaries, diplomats, courtiers, family, and trades people who passed through.

They would pen not only religious works, but those for entertainment. Let's meet the Irish monk stationed at the Benedictine Abbey of Reichenau, in Germany. Far from home, he brings a cat for companionship. At the end of another full day, working on the most serious and scholarly of texts, what would someone like him do for amusement? Sport and play with his feline friend! He wrote a quaint and charming tribute to his cat, a subject still beloved by children today. Books about pets and other animals remain the best selling ones for children. "White Fuller" or Pangur Bán, survives as an example of Irish Literature for all ages. It is a story that continues to inspire, like this animated version from The Secret of Kells.

http://courtbard.tripod.com/id113.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangur_Bán

The Art of Perfection

I discovered illuminations while attending the BookExpo, New Yorks' annual publishing convention held at the Javits Center. A beautiful leather-bound book on a podium jumped out at me from a corner booth. Opened to a lavishly colored folio was one of the loveliest reproductions of an illuminated manuscript that I've yet to encounter.

The house of Moleiro is based in Barcelona, Spain. They sell exclusive and unrepeatable editions which I haven't had the nerve to price out, as well as more affordable limited editions for about 100 Euros (that's roughly $145.00 USD). The catalogues are gorgeous, too—intricate gold details are scattered throughout, overlaying the color art in faithful reproduction to the books produced and sold.

For those of you seeking the experience of owning one of these treasures, you won't find more accurate and historical representations elsewhere. Happy perusing!

http://www.moleiro.com/en/books-of-hours/the-isabella-breviary.html