INSIDE A MANUSCRIPT

This section explores a brief timeline of some of the most recognized scripts in the Middle Ages. For a more in-depth study, visit hmmlschool.org, where the majority of this information is sourced. Before visiting the scripts, a basic understanding in terminology should be gained:

  MAJUSCULE VS. MINUSCULE

These are two classifications which the majority of scripts fall into. The definitions of these terms are where our modern definition of uppercase and lowercase come from. Majuscule refers to a script in which all or nearly all letters are of uniform height. Minuscule refers to the opposite, where letters are of varying heights and there are ascenders (stems of a letter which go above the rest of the letters like ‘b’ or ‘d’) and descenders (letters where one part goes below the rest of the letters like ‘g’ or ‘p’).

ASPECT VS. DUCTUS

When viewing a block of text and identifying what script it is, aspect and ductus will both be considered. Aspect refers to the general appearance of a script, like if it looks spikey, or curvy. Whereas ductus refers to the execution of the scribe, like how many strokes are in a particular scribe's letter.

Finally we will now move into analyzing particular scripts, these will be ordered from earliest to latest and include a brief definition, history, and comments on their aspect.

UNCIAL 

The Uncial script is the earliest one being analyzed, it is a majuscule script from late antiquity into the Middle Ages mainly used as a primary script for manuscripts of the Bible. In the 5th and 8th centuries it was used in the main body of text and after was a display script (meaning it was used in titles). The Uncial script is known for its distinctly rounded aspect, to recognize it you should look for a very rounded ‘m’ with two large bows, or a lowercase ‘d’ where its ascender leans left over the rest of the letter.

INSULAR HALF-UNCIAL

Insular is a term used to describe the british and irish manuscript culture, Insular Half-Uncial is the term for this specific script. Most famously used in the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells, it emerged from the British Isles around the 7th century, blended Uncial and Irish letter forms, and was used primarily in religious manuscripts. Insular Half-Uncial is a majuscule script, and can be recognized from its colourful and flowery aspect.

CAROLINE MINUSCULE

Caroline Minuscule developed and spread in the 8th and 9th centuries in conjunction with Charlemagne’s program to reform the liturgy and establish a correct and uniform text of the bible. From these efforts a consensus style of script emerged which was clear, legible, and consistent. It is well spaced and can be recognized through its long ‘s’ which looks like an r or f without a cross-bar. It is a Minuscule script with an aspect not very different from a lowercase Times New Roman font.

GOTHIC TEXTUALIS

Emerging in the 12th century from Northern Europe, Gothic Textualis or simply “blackletter’, is one of the more distinct scripts listed. There are many explanations why this script emerged from Caroline Minuscule, it may have been a response to economic constraints in the 12th century due to its more cramped style which allows for more writing per page, it also is thought to have emerged to fit the aesthetic of the time, with the scripts aspect sharing similarities to the gothic architecture of the time. It is technically a majuscule script although it looks to be miniscule, and has a tall and thin aspect. What makes Gothic Textualis most recognizable would be its contrast in lettering between thick and thin elements.

HUMANIST

Finally, the last script we will look at is Humanist, Invented by Poggio Bracciolini at the end of the 14th century. Bracciolini made Humanist in imitation of Caroline Minuscule, naturally because of this, the two scripts are very similar in aspect. The reformed script was done in response to Gothic scripts which Bracciolini saw and wanted Europe to reclaim its Classical heritage, so he made a script which mirrored Caroline Minuscule. This is because all Classical texts reached this period in the Caroline script.

Illuminated manuscripts underwent four stages of copying: writing, rubrication, decoration, and illustration. Decoration is difficult to describe fully in text. This section introduces basic terminology related to decorations and illustrations, namely the definitions you are more likely to encounter through further studying of decorations in medieval manuscripts, with a focus on visual examples. 

MARGINALIA 

This umbrella term refers to the notes, comments, illustrations, or other decorative elements which are included in the margins of a page.

INITIALS 

One of the most recognizable aspects of a medieval manuscript would be their distinct initials. These would be the first words of a letter that began a section of text and would be highly decorated. Initials have many variations of style, they are often pen-flourished, with elaborate pen strokes that extend beyond the margins, or contain patterns, or scenes. One popular type of initial would be a ‘Champ’ which consists of a gilded capital letter and a patterned background, most commonly they are made up of blue and red colours. 

COMMON TERMINOLOGY FOR INITIALS (AND DECORATIONS IN MANUSCRIPTS)

ANTHROPOMORPHIC

A decorated initial containing human figures

ZOOMORPHIC

A decorated initial containing animal forms.

ZOO-ANTHROPOMORPHIC

A decorated initial containing both humans and animals.

GYMNASTIC

A decorated initial containing a lively figure.

HISTORIATED

A decorated initial containing a recognizable scene which includes human or animal figures.

INHABITED

A decorated initial containing human or animal figures drawn from the text.

FOLIATE

A common decorative motif found in nearly all manuscripts is foliate. This form of decoration incorporates leafy designs throughout borders and initials and can be found throughout the Middle Ages. One popular foliate design was Acanthus, originating from Classical Rome and continuing to be a common form of decoration even now. Rinceaux leaves are reminiscent of thin scrolling leaves and can be found most often in borders of text; it was a popular practice in the 12th and 13th centuries. In the Renaissance, tiny zoomorphic or anthropomorphic figures appeared. White vine stem was another popular foliate decoration which was used in initials and borders alongside Humanist scripts.

LINE FILLER

Because scribes wanted their text blocks to be uniform and balanced, they did not want any spaces at the end of lines. If a gap did occur however, there needed a way to fill them that was visually appealing, line fillers were created to serve this decorative and practical purpose, as they both enhanced the aesthetic appeal of a manuscript, while maintaining the symmetrical text blocks which were preferred. 

MINIATURES

Miniatures in manuscripts are small detailed illustrations added to illuminated manuscripts to help explain the text. They often depict scenes of daily life or historical events, but a majority seem to show religious stories. Miniatures can be found in the margins, around initials, and can also take up an entire page. They do also have a multitude of purposes beyond supplementing text. Miniatures can include history into the physical book itself, with scribal or author portraits showing insight into the creators of the manuscript, or presentation miniatures which depict the patron receiving their book.

INCIPIT PAGE

Incipit meaning “to begin” in Latin, Incipit pages are found at the beginning of medieval manuscripts and some early printed books, incipit pages were identifying labels of the themes of the manuscripts content. They consisted of the first few words of the text in large highly decorated script, the pages would also be filled with elaborate decorations surrounding it. Similarly to Incipit pages, there are also Chi-Rho pages, which look very similar but show the monogram of Christ in Greek. Another similar page would be a Carpet page that is a full page in a manuscript filled with geometric and patterns designs which mimic the design of a carpet.