For these patrons, they were more than just books, but rather objects that demonstrated their wealth and worldliness. The medieval period is known for its many art forms and its awkward executions: think of doodles of knights fighting snails, monks playing butt trumpets, or. It's easy to see why these one-of-a-kind objects were the highly prized possessions of kings, cardinals, dukes, and bishops from the Middle Ages well into the Renaissance period. The Twitter account WeirdMedieval offers a rare glimpse into the medieval art by collecting and posting everything from illuminated manuscripts to tapestries, mosaics and stained glass. And thanks to digitization projects, we're also able to examine expert works like The Aberdeen Bestiaryup close. Watching the precise handiwork of the scribes and illuminators, who strived for perfection, it's easy to have a newfound appreciation for these medieval manuscripts. In illuminated manuscripts, Medieval Europe can seem more like Monty Python and the Holy Grail than the grim tales of grey-faced, mildewed kings, monks, knights, and peasants turned out by the Hollywood dozen.

From the artisan who created the parchment paper to the scribe who used a quill to expertly transcribe words on the page to the illuminators that gave color to the manuscript, it was a true group effort.Įqually fascinating is the look at how natural materials were used to craft the manuscripts, beginning with animal skins, but also including the gallnuts of oak trees to create dark inks. Handwritten on parchment made from animal skins and lovingly illuminated with precious materials like gold leaf and ultramarine, the slow and laborious process reminds us of how our mechanized world has certainly changed the value of today's goods.

Weird art in medieval manuscripts