www.scriptorium.dk

Each piece is an authentic hand-made copy

Recreated in an artistically high quality that is faithful to the original medieval manuscripts.

An alternative, atypical counterpoint to today’s digitized typography that only works via electricity or batteries, which have gradually supplanted the handwritten word altogether.

Håndlavede rekonstruktioner af middelalder manuskripter

The Scriptorium project arose in 2006, partly from self-studies of French and English medieval history and partly as a direct further development of my study flagship, the project www.jeanne-darc.info I reconstruct medieval manuscripts and book miniatures with great detailed beauty and high artistic quality. Recreated using our own techniques so that they look like hundreds of years old original medieval book illustrations. All works painted by hand. The paper is fine artist paper, which I process “old” myself, so it looks beautiful with patina and age. Thereby I create the illusion that you are standing with an original book painting which could be 500 years old.

What?

Each individual work is an authentic hand-made copy, produced from the idea that historical illustrations can not only be experienced in books and museums or via electronic media, but also as concrete art that can be enjoyed and owned by everyone. The Scriptorium project’s idea is to recreate and reconstruct historical, illustrated handicrafts as accurately as possible. All works are produced in our own studio, and are created from materials with and of high quality.

How?

In all my works, there is a focus on everything looking real and acting as if they were produced in the given time period. I strive to recreate the motifs in an artistically high quality that is faithful to the original medieval manuscripts. It is the characteristic of the pictures that they are experienced as if they are old. Like a single page taken straight out of an old handmade book from the Middle Ages, or like a fresco motif just taken down from the church wall!

Why?

Partly to pay tribute to a unique historical graphic craft, illumination and book art. It can also be experienced as a different and atypical counterplay to today’s digitized typography, which only works via electricity or batteries, which have gradually supplanted the handwritten word entirely. By reconstructing the original writings and historical illustrations, it can also be used as a contribution to development and understanding in both historical research and in educational contexts. Last but not least, to reproduce an original handicraft that appeals to all history- and art-interested people and that is full of history, religious dignity and soul.

As a trained graphic designer, I have rediscovered the original roots of my profession in the art of illumination. Here I can experience both typographic design, which sometimes resembles illegible wild style graffiti, but also come across figures and landscapes, fantastic ornaments and colorful patterns. Crooked and distorted perspectives. It is a wonderful process to recreate these works, which in meditative contexts can create a philosophical link to a scribal monk or illuminator (illustrator) 500-600 years ago. It is also a nice alternative to today’s graphic design, which eventually only occurs on a computer and via mouse clicks. Last but not least, it’s Danish craftsmanship that you won’t find anywhere else – and all works are unique.