The calligraphy and illumination of this scroll are inspired by the manuscript Arundel 106 created in Southern Germany during the second half of the 15th century.
All period materials and tools were used in the creation of this scroll. I used gold leaf with period gesso, oak gall ink, period pigments which I ground and made into paint and quills which I cut.
The vellum was prepared for accepting ink by rubbing pounce on the surface to remove excess fat. It was then sanded to bring up the nap to create the best surface for calligraphy. Then gum sandarac was applied to allow crispness of lettering. Holes were pricked to mark boundary lines which were marked using a straight edge and a bone folder. Lines for the calligraphy were also marked using the straight edge and bone folder. I then added penciled lines for my calligraphy as I do not write sixty hours per week like the scribes in the fifteenth century, so I cannot keep my writing perfectly straight floating above the lines as the scribes did. The pencil lines were later erased. The illumination was drawn and then the calligraphy was written. Then gesso was mixed and laid for the gold initial capital. When it had dried sufficiently the gold leaf was laid and burnished. Lastly paints were prepared and the decoration painted.
