Hardback. Navy and cream board with gilt title and illuminated manuscript on the front board.

We provide an in-depth photographic presentation of this item to stimulate your feeling and touch. More traditional book descriptions are immediately available. 

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Winner of the 2026 British Book Design and Production Awards – Scholarly, Academic and Reference Book category

Pages from some of the most celebrated and exquisite medieval manuscripts in the British Library provide the inspiration for twenty-one practical art and calligraphy projects. Seven classic scripts are explored in turn by expert Patricia Lovett. She explains their characteristics, origins and development and creates exemplar diagrams to show basic letter shapes and the quill strokes required to produce them. Each chapter ends with three complementary projects based on aspects of the manuscripts’ design and layout shown in preceding pages; these range from simple to more technical.

Manuscripts from the British Library, Bibliotheque Nationale de France and the Getty Museum have been selected, and projects are illustrated with step-by-step photographs and beautiful images of the finished works.

A substantial Part II provides vital guidance on specialist tools and materials, as well as practical techniques, such as cutting quills, mixing inks and paints, and preparing pigments and shell gold.

Review: Beautiful book describing the calligraphy and illuminations of detailed mediaeval and historical manuscripts. Illustrated with clear colour photography. The author, a professional calligrapher, provides practical projects exploring how to form the letters of several classic scripts and the tools and materials needed to complete your own version of illuminated artwork.

Patricia Lovett is a professional calligrapher and illuminator who teaches and lectures all over the world. She was awarded an MBE for services to calligraphy and heritage crafts and is Chair of the Heritage and Crafts Association. She has published extensively on calligraphy, including The Art & History of Calligraphy for the British Library.