Grade 7 History Students Study Illuminated Manuscripts and Create Their Own Illuminated Letters

Grade 7 students shined light on a recent unit studying the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Medieval European society. The class explored illuminated manuscripts and the roles of monks and other scribes (illuminators) in the creation of beautiful works of art. 

Middle School administrative assistant Sherry Wagener was a guest lecturer on the subject matter, as she holds a master's degree in art history and leads tours at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Her talent and enthusiasm on the subject brought a special touch to make the connection between the study and art. 

 

Mrs. Wagener challenged the students to ponder the relevance of illuminated manuscripts today. Following a question-and-answer session, students created their own illuminated letters. Students learned illuminated letters on a page were oftentimes page breaks, the beginning of a new chapter, or signaled important information in the manuscript. Students studied images from the Medieval Book of Hours, the Pink Quran, and the Lindisfarne Gospels (all illuminated manuscripts) to gain inspiration for their artwork. 

 

St. Margaret’s will be offering an art history elective in the Middle School next year, which will be taught by Mrs. Wagener and provide students with an in-depth exploration of art across diverse cultures.