Calligraphy - ARMA - The Hunt Museum
Ancient manuscript features a sketch of a haloed figure seated with two fingers raised, surrounded by intricate text borders and Latin script.

Page (manuscript)/Vellum/12th century AD/The Hunt Collection/PD

A man in medieval blue robes and a red cap naps at a wooden desk in a dimly lit room with bookshelves, arched windows, and intricate wall designs.

Translator at work from BL Royal 18 E III, f. 24 by Valerius Maximus, translated by Simon de Hesdin and Nicholas de Gonesse - 1479 - The British Library, United Kingdom - Public Domain.

Illuminated medieval manuscript depicts a crucifixion scene with vivid colours and intricate details, featuring haloed figures in a solemn composition.

Manuscript leaf from a Book of Pericopes/Animal,Skin,Mammal skin,Parchment,Vellum/12th century AD/The Hunt Collection/PD

A framed, medieval manuscript page with Latin text in brown ink, featuring visible stitching along the edges, conveying an antique and historic feel.

Manuscript leaf from a Book of Pericopes/Animal,Skin,Mammal skin,Parchment,Vellum/12th century AD/The Hunt Collection/PD

Visual Art

  • Strand – Drawing
  • Strand Unit- Making Drawings

 

History

  • Strand: Life, Society, Work & Culture
  • Strand Unit: Life in Medieval town & countryside

Teaching Materials

Today it is easy and quick to record and disseminate information, but in the Middle Ages this process was slow and laborious. All books known as manuscripts were copied by hand using a decorative style of script known as calligraphy.

These teaching materials will enable primary school children to learn about the process and history of calligraphy by comparing and contrasting manuscript examples from Europeana’s collections and historical objects from Limerick Museum and the Hunt Museum associated with the practice of calligraphy. The children will then fashion a calligraphy pen and use it to create their own piece of calligraphy.

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