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Illuminating Letters

Students will explore the history of illuminated manuscripts and create a visually striking illuminated letter of their own.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Aluminum Foil
  • Recycled Cardboard

Steps

  • Step 1

    The art of illuminated manuscripts dates back to the 5th century. The practice flourished until the 15th century and the advent of the printing press. An illuminated manuscript is an intricately decorated handwritten book. Letters, usually the first letter of a word in a passage, were "illuminated" with gold and silver, as were some of the accompanying illustrations. Have students view images of some notable examples, such as the Book of Kells from around the 9th century or the Black Hours Manuscript from the 15th century.

  • Step 2

    Have students create a textured illuminated letter as a 3D decorative relief. Ask them to sketch and cut out a large capital letter on a piece of recycled cardboard or heavy paper. Then have them cover the cardboard with aluminum foil. They can use a pencil tip or toothpick to add details and embellishments on the surface to create embossed designs in the style of a Medieval illuminated manuscript.

  • Step 3

    Students can attach their special letter to a piece of background paper and continue decorating it and the background using lines made with glitter glue. When the work is dry the letters can be displayed on a bulletin board.

Standards

ARTS: Explore and invent art-making techniques and approaches.

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture.

Adaptations

The letters in illuminated text were often embellished with decorations that would give a clue as to what the passage is about. Have students select the first sentence in a passage of a book they enjoy. Ask them to write it out and decorate the first letter, which should be written larger than the others, in a way that tells the reader what's to come.

The art of gold leaf painting dates back to ancient cultures. Have students explore this art form and look at examples. These might include precious amulets and other sacred objects that were placed in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, Japanese paintings such as "Birds and Flowers of the Four Seasons" (late 16th century), or "The Kiss" (c. 1907) by Gustav Klimt.