The Wartime Housewife is very excited. Last year I listened to a programme on Radio 4 about a forthcoming Exhibition at the British Library in 
London. They are exhibiting their collection of Mediaeval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts collected by the kings and queens of England for over 800 years. These treasures are an incredibly vivid source for understanding royal identity, moral and religious beliefs, learning, faith, artistic trends and the international politics of the period.
I’m hugely interested in the Mediaeval period and read as much as I can and attend lectures whenever possible. A couple of years ago Prof. Michelle Brown, the former Curator of Illuminated Manuscripts at the British Library, came to Hallaton Church in Leicestershire and gave a fascinating talk about her subject, particularly focussing on The Luttrell Psalter, which was commissioned in Lincolnshire in the 1330s. I already owned her book on this subject and I went all soppy and got her to sign it for me.
Boy stealing cherries from The Luttrell Psalter
This is all dovetailing nicely with a series this week, again on Radio 4, all about the History of Books as part of the ‘In Our Time’ series. Melvyn Bragg is presenting a programme every day this about the evolution of writing things down, from words scratched on sticks to wooden tablets, vellum and parchment. He explains how books were disseminated and about the transition from huge illustrated tomes and scrolls to the smaller ‘codex’ which was compact enough to travel with its owner.
Religious texts often had a wider social implication than we might imagine. Before printing processes were in use, bibles and religious texts were only seen by clerics and scribes, and ordinary people were forbidden access to them. As printing presses and particularly moveable type came into use, more people had access to the Bible. This was massively important not just because ordinary people could then read the texts and offer their own interpretations and opinions, but for many this was the only access to the written word they had. This inevitably contributed to an increase in literacy, education and a kind of power.
The squirrel was a symbol of female sexuality. This may be Elizabeth Luttrell after she was widowed.
The decorations on early manuscripts were astonishing works of art. They not only serve to illustrate the text in a lavish and beautiful way, they also told additional stories about the people who had commissioned them. Illuminators often threw in little jokes or snide visual comment and equally often the commissioner would ask to be included in the pictures.
These manuscripts offered dynamic social and religious context. There was an intimate and continuous interplay between the daily and spiritual realities of the time, which explored politics, moral concerns and the hopes and fears of a generation, which are invariably no different from our hopes and fears today.
The exhibition runs until 13th March, so today, I took the bull by the horns and booked my ticket for the exhibition and I even bought my train tickets which, incidentally, were bought more cheaply and conveniently from Market Harborough station than when I tried to purchase them on-line.
Look forward to an account of my trip at the end of the month. I must go now – I have some swotting to do…
Thanks for that “illuminating” synopsis, which I found very interesting, because I know so very little about the subject. But I agree, it sounds as though it is one that could captivate.
A sumptuous exhibition I suspect. I look forward to your report.
It sounds like a great exhibition. I too have been enjoying Melvin Bargg’s series. He is very good at getting the academics to talk interestingly and informatively. Anyone should listen who is interested in this subject and wants the basics, entertainingly distilled.
I like the work of the limners being described as ‘illuminations’ rather than plain, old ‘illustrations’ much more evocative of the nature of their work.
Fascinating post! Not an exhibition I’ll get to see I fear so I eagerly await your report. In Our Time is a favourite of mine too … good ‘ol Radio 4
VG: in all the books I’ve read, astonishingly I’ve never heard the term ‘limner’. Thanks for that!