Manuscript Magnets

An illuminated C from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated X from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right. In fact this is the greek letter Chi which forms the Ch sound in Christ.

Original score of manuscript by Georg Friedrich Händel.

An illuminated W from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated N from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated V from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated G from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated E from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right. There is one curly feature of this one.. Prior to the middle ages there was no difference between Is and Js. Js were introduced at that time. This letter comes from the book of Jonah and was the initial to his name.

An illuminated K from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated L from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An illuminated H from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminate

Letter written by Ludwig van Beethoven to his brothers Carl and Johann at Heiligenstadt, today part of Vienna, on 6 October 1802

An illuminated E from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

An image from a 15th century Coptic prayer book from Ethiopia pairs nicely with this medieval quote, emphasizing the importance of pictures to those who read and use books.

Original cover of the musical work: The 4 Seasons. Manuscript of Antonio Vivaldi. Design to match the scores and poems of the other pieces of The Four Seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter).

An illuminated E from a middle ages text. Since at the time the work of copying or translating took years of effort, it was little more trouble to richly decorate manuscripts. It also signified the value of the work. Each illuminated initial became a master piece in its own right

Vintage illustration Renaissance Era astrological design featuring an antique celestial Zodiac chart with the 12 signs of the Zodiac and a woman in the center, c1416. The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is a famous French Gothic manuscript illumination showing the late International Gothic phase of the style. It is a book of hours: a collection of prayers to be said at the canonical hours. It was created for the extravagant royal bibliophile and patron John, Duke of Berry, by the Limbourg brothers.

A skull sits ahead of a metronome with a heart and black rose. Adorned with red roses and grasses.

A colour version of a contemporary Celtic design which I produced for an illustration in the book The Real Witches’ Craft published by Thorsons/Element.

Ideal shopping list: D

New to the Manicules - letter N is for NOPE!

New to the Manicules - letter N is for note!

Add a wonderful accent to your room with Geralt of Rivia in his bathtub, in marginalia manuscript-style, to brighten any environment ;)

New to the Manicules - letter N is for NOPE!

Original handwritten score of Johann Sebastian Bach | Dominica

Ideal shopping list: D

A beautiful Old World Swallowtail Butterfly rests amidst a backdrop of pretty nasturtiums. A delicately observed, colour saturated, botanically inspired watercolour by designer Patricia Shea.

The Official Merchandise of the Our Fake History podcast!

First musical composition by Amadeus Mozart (aged 5, in 1761). Series of 4 compositions, this is the fourth (4 of 4).

An image of the medieval town of Konstanz from the Illustrated Chronicle by Diebold Schilling of Lucerne - Luzern, Korporation Luzern, S 23 fol., p. 288

Wolf coat of arms medieval manuscript style

Original score of the Autumn, of the work: The 4 Seasons. Manuscript of Antonio Vivaldi. Design to match the scores and poems of the other pieces of The Four Seasons (Spring, Summer, Winter).

The illuminated manuscript known as the Lindisfarne Gospels were made on Lindisfarne by a monk called Eadfrith between 698 and 721. He created it ‘for God and for St Cuthbert’. The book contains the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John: the four Evangelists. The text of the Lindisfarne Gospels is in Latin with a word-by-word translation into Old English added between the lines in the 10th century. It is the oldest surviving translation of the Gospels into the English language. I have included the word ‘beginning’ to show that the roots of my work lie in the labours of artists who committed their gifting to God, I aim to do the same, ‘For the glory of God alone’.

Original score, manuscript by Johann Sebastian Bach

Witness the whimsical marvel that is the 'This is Fine' design by Nemons, a delightful twist on the conventional medieval manuscript style illustration, tailor-made for aficionados of history! This masterpiece is a must-have for those who frequent local Renaissance fairs, history buffs or Shakespeare lovers, as it seamlessly blends tradition whilst humorously depicting a situation where things are clearly not going well, yet maintaining a façade of composure or denial. It's a satirical take on how people sometimes cope with stressful or disastrous situations by pretending that everything is under control, even when it's not.