A for Ambition Illumination

Description

Between c.500-c.1600 illuminated manuscripts appeared in Western Europe. Local artists started manually creating little books vividly decorated with paintings. Furthermore, at that times, artists started adding silver and gold to their works to illuminate the text and accompanying illustrations.

Historically, monks in abbeys scattered across Europe were responsible for creating hand-made illuminated manuscripts.

The process of creating manuscripts required both mental and physical stamina. The whole process was extremely tedious and time-consuming.  Large monasteries commonly have scriptoriums. They were reclusive rooms well-suited for long writing, copying, illuminating, and biding manuscripts. Scribers could spend days working in complete solitude there.

Later in the 14th century, educated class was growing constantly alongside with the demand of manuscripts. It was the time when bookmakers took over the process. They started to produce manuscripts at large by commercial facilities in Paris, Rome and Amsterdam. At the same time, illuminated manuscripts were quite costly. People with significant means could afford them back then. The Book of Hours was the most popular. It was a Christian devotional of prayers.

Tedious process

A long time ago, artists used delicate, natural materials to produce a manuscript. For example, gold leaf, vellum, and bright mineral pigments. Carefully they illustrated each manuscript, gilded it and added calligraphy. All this required a high degree of craftsmanship. Often you could see manuscripts during church services or as daily devotions of monks. There even were large manuscripts to share among parishioners for daily prayer.

Many manuscripts didn’t survive till nowadays. Surviving works are treasured in museums and research institutes worldwide. The Books of Kells (800 C.E.) is Ireland’s national treasure and the pinnacle of calligraphy.

The work “A for Ambition” is about having courage and drive to fulfil your goals. Living without an ambition is similar to a life without a meaning. It is essential to success. First, you need to think clear about what are you trying to achieve. Only then you will be able to take steps required to reach your set purpose.