Intro to Manuscripts : Art Appreciation: Illuminated Book Terms and Definitions

Manuscript: A book or document written by hand rather than typed or printed

Scroll: A roll of parchment or paper

Codex: An ancient manuscript in book form

Folio: Term used for an individual page of parchment

Parchment: The skin of a sheep or goat that has been prepared for use as a support for writing

Vellum: The skin of a cow that has been prepared for use as a support for writing

Illumination: Decoration unique to book design, in which a page is decorated with gold, silver, or colored designs

Marginalia: Notes in the margins of a text

Rubric: From the Latin for “red.” A title, heading, or direction in a manuscript, often written in red ink

Historiated initial: An enlarged letter at the beginning of a paragraph that contains a picture

Illuminator: A person who illuminates a manuscript

Scribe: A person who copies manuscript texts

Book of Hours: A book containing the prayers to be said at specific hours of the day

Psalter: A copy of the biblical Psalms, especially for liturgical use

Choir Book: A manuscript used by choirs in churches during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Usually the book is large enough for the entire choir to read from one text