Text Technology: Medieval Manuscript
Case Studies: Bible page and Breviary
Figure 1 is a bifolium from a thirteenth century Bible (manuscript ET/MS5) that originated in Paris. The text is taken from the Book of Isaiah 30-40 (look up the Vulgate version of the Bible online in Latin). There are two columns per folio, the writing grid being ruled with a pencil, with an average of seven words per line, written in a formal Gothic bookhand, with a tiny broad-edged quill. Chapter numbers are provided in red and blue inks, with some pen-drawn flourishes on the opening words of each chapter. These function as fundamental information retrieval tools. There are marginal annotations, which show that some readers were very engaged in the text they were reading.
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Figure 2 is a tiny breviary. This leaf (ET/MS 2) shows the prayer book from the fifteenth century, localized to Italy. It is produced on expensive vellum and written in a practiced book hand.
-Elaine Treharne |
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Brown, Michelle. “Manuscript Glossaries.” http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/glossary.asp
- New York Public Library “Three Faiths Scriptorium”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwUNxsEIP6I&feature=relmfu
Research questions
1. Using the link to the glossary above, look up the following and define them in no more than two sentences.
2. Using the link to the glossary above, read the definition for the term “script” and answer the following: Why do scribes use different scripts?
3. Look at Figures 1 and 2. What seems particular to manuscript production in these examples? What features are found here that don’t occur in printed books?
4. Compare Figure 1 to Figure 2. For whom might each of these books be written? How might they be used?
5. In what context do we still use scribes? How does contemporary scribal practice relate to other manuscript cultures we have studies (ancient, medieval)? (view link in bibliography)
- Bifolium- A sheet of writing support material (generally PARCHMENT during the Middle Ages) folded in half to produce two leaves (i.e., four pages). A number of bifolia folded together form a QUIRE.
- Breviary-A SERVICE BOOK containing the texts necessary for the celebration of the DIVINE OFFICE. A breviary is often adorned with DECORATED or HISTORIATED INITIALS, and more luxurious copies may contain MINIATURES depicting biblical scenes or the performance of the office.
- Book of Hours-A book, also called a primer or horae, for use in private devotions. Its central text, the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin (or Hours of the Virgin), is modelled on the DIVINE OFFICE and represents a shorter version of the devotions performed at the eight canonical hours.
- Marginalia-The Latin word for 'things in the margin', marginalia refers to writing or decoration in the margins of a manuscript. Marginalia include GLOSSES, annotations, and diagrams.
- Gloss -A word or words commenting on, elucidating, or translating those of the main text. Glosses were often written in the margins or between the lines. See also MISE-EN-PAGE.
- Mis-en-page-This term refers to the layout of a page. Significant developments in the mise-en-page of manuscripts include the standardization of a one- or two-column layout during the LATE ANTIQUE and EARLY CHRISTIAN periods (initially four columns might be used, in emulation of an unrolled section of a ROLL).
- Ruling-The process by which a frame and/or horizontal lines are produced to guide the hand in writing; the word also refers to the linear guide thus produced.
- Carpet Page-An ornamental page particularly favoured in INSULAR art, sometimes incorporating a cross into its design, that derives its name from its visual similarity to an Eastern carpet. Unlike decorated INCIPIT PAGES, carpet pages do not carry text.
- Incipit-The opening words of a text, from the Latin verb incipere ('to begin'). The incipit and EXPLICIT of a book or text are often used in place of a title to identify a text.
- Explicit- The closing of a textual unit, from the Latin explicitus, meaning 'unrolled'. When cataloguing manuscripts, the INCIPIT and explicit of a text are often cited to aid textual identification.
- Colophon-An inscription recording information relating to the circumstances of the production of a manuscript or printed book (the place and/or people involved and, less frequently, the date).
- Paleography -From the Greek palaiographia, meaning 'ancient writing', paleography is the study of the history of SCRIPTS, their adjuncts (such as ABBREVIATION and punctuation), and their decipherment. The fifteenth-century humanists (see HUMANISTIC) were the first to attempt to distinguish styles of handwriting according to date, but the discipline really began to develop during the second half of the seventeenth century.
2. Using the link to the glossary above, read the definition for the term “script” and answer the following: Why do scribes use different scripts?
- The cut and thickness of the PEN nib alters the appearance and degree of formality of a script; and writing materials generally influenced the development of letter forms. Set scripts were slowly and carefully produced, with the SCRIBE frequently lifting the pen from the writing surface. Cursive scripts were written more rapidly with less lifting and sometimes include loops. Current scripts were the most rapidly written and informal and are often difficult to read. The more formal text scripts are generally termed formal book script, textualis, or textura (or variations such as Gothic black-letter script), while the less formal are termed cursives.
3. Look at Figures 1 and 2. What seems particular to manuscript production in these examples? What features are found here that don’t occur in printed books?
- The chapter numbers are provided in red and blue inks, with some pen-drawn flourishes on the opening words of each chapter. The margins are pencil drawn, and the script is not the same as printed block letters.
4. Compare Figure 1 to Figure 2. For whom might each of these books be written? How might they be used?
- Figure 2 is written on very expensive vellum and written in a practiced book. A priest or other high member of the church was probably the owner of this text. Likewise, because of the annotations in the text I think Figure 1 belonged to a very educated person, most likely a priest or other high member of society. Figure 1 might have also been used during religious ceremonies.
5. In what context do we still use scribes? How does contemporary scribal practice relate to other manuscript cultures we have studies (ancient, medieval)? (view link in bibliography)
- We still use scribes today to restore and refresh old texts, such as the Torah. Prayerful writing allows the scribes to become closer to their faith. Many of the languages that were used by ancient scribes are the same letters that are being used or restored by contemporary scribes: Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, etc.