Research Guides: History of Text Technologies: Ink, Pigments, and Gold

Manuscripts on Dyed Parchment

Black Hours. Silver and gold ink on vellum that is stained or painted black.

Golden Gospels of Henry VIII, Gospel Book, in Latin. Trier, ca. 980. Gold ink on parchment dyed with a plant-based purple pigment.

[Book of hours : use of Rome]
Call Number: ND3363 .H37
Publication Date: 1526
This book is a good example of illumination with several hand colored and illuminated illustrations. Pages display decorative motifs in addition to full page illustrations.

Leaf from a Book of Hours
Call Number: BX2080 .A2 1465
Publication Date: 1465
An example of a manuscript page on parchment. This one is from a book of hours and contains illuminated decoration as well.
Magnificat
Call Number: Vault ; BX2045.M3 A2 1400z
Publication Date: c.1400-99
This is a vellum leaf from a French prayer book. It is written in Church Latin with Gothic letters in black with each sentence starting with a larger color-painted letter. The page contains colored vegetal motifs with gold-leaf ornamentation.

Materials and Techniques of Medieval Painting by Daniel V. Thompson; B. Berenson (Foreword by)
ISBN: 0486203271
Publication Date: 1956-06-01
This volume gives an overview of the techniques of paints, binders, metals, and surface preparation. Based on manuscripts and scientific investigation.