The Scriptorium Collection The Special Collections and Archives Gallery Exhibit
Brigham Young University-Idaho


The Scriptorium Collection
A History of the Written Word

The Medieval and Renaissance World


Scriptorium Exhibit Homepage
Paper and Quills
Modern reproductions of shaped writing quills.
Medieval musical score
Gregorian Chant (c. 1500 AD)
Music handwritten on vellum.

Gregorian Chant detail
Gregorian Chant detail
Offizium der Madonna (facsimile)
Offizium der Madonna (facsimile)
This is a full sized-copy of an originial book created in 1488 AD)
Book of Hours (1425-1450 AD)
A Page from a Book of Hours (1425-1450 AD)
The text is from St. Matthew and tells of the visit of the Three Wise Men. This page is on vellum.
Book of Hours detail
Book of Hours detail
Noticed the raised gold letter.
Book of Hours
A Page from a Book of Hours (1460 AD)
Notice the two holes in the sheepskin vellum and the thin lines to layout the text.
La Bibbia di Borso d'Este
La Bibbia di Borso d'Este (facsimile)
The original bible was produced about 1455-1461 AD and is a masterpiece of the illumination art. It was commisioned by the Borso d'Este, duke of Ferrara.
Detail of La Bibbia di Borso d'Este
Detail of illumination art in La Bibbia di Borso d'Este
Detail of La Bibbia di Borso d'Este
Detail of illumination art in La Bibbia di Borso d'Este
Below are three examples of Medieval illumination work from the British Museum. These designs faithfully were copied from original manuscripts and collected into a book in 1845.
Medieval illumnination work Medieval illumnination work Medieval illumnination work
McKay Library Homepage McKay Exhibits Homepage Scriptorium Exhibit Homepage