A 21st Century Illuminator creates a 21st Century Illuminated Manuscript!

Calligraphers and illumination artists were jobs in the middle ages. However, they are also jobs in the 21st century! In 1998 a group of people at St. John's Abby and University met with master calligrapher Donald Jackson to start a project to create the first handwritten bible since the invention of the printing press! The bible is called The St. John's Bible. It is seven volumes, each 2 feet tall, and 3 feet wide when opened! It is made of vellum, has about 160 illuminations, and cost about $8 million dollars to produce!

To learn a little more about this modern day illuminated manuscript, go to this web page and click on Layout & Design and Tools and Materials. 

Click Here!

Young historians just like you study the art of illuminating letters! Below is a video of illuminated letter artwork created by elementary students.