What is meant by art?—The art faculty—How artists may be compared—Theaim of illumination—Distinction between illuminationand miniature—Definition of illumination—The first miniaturepainter—Origin of the term “miniature”—Ovid's allusion to hislittle book
Difference between vellum and parchment—Names of different preparations—Thekinds of vellum most prized for illuminated books—The“parcheminerie” of the Abbey of Cluny—Origin of theterm “parchment”—Papyrus
Its different styles—Origin of Western alphabets—Various forms ofletters—Capitals, uncials, etc.—Texts used in Western Europe—Formsof ancient writings—The roll, or volume—The codex—Tablets—Diptychs,etc.—The square book—How different sizes ofbooks were produced
The first miniature painter—The Vatican Vergils—Methods of painting—Originof Christian art—The Vienna Genesis—The Dioscorides—TheByzantine Revival
The rebuilding of the city of Byzantium the beginning of Byzantineart—Justinian's fondness for building and splendour—Descriptionof Paul the Silentiary—Sumptuous garments—The Gospel-book ofHormisdas—Characteristics of Byzantine work—Comparative scarcityof examples—Rigidity of Byzantine rules of art—Periods ofByzantine art—Examples—Monotony and lifelessness of the style
Early liturgical books reflect the ecclesiastical art of their time—Thisfeature a continuous characteristic of illumination down to thelatest times—Elements of Celtic ornament—Gospels of St. Chad—DurhamGospels—Contrast of Celtic and Byzantine—St. Columba—Bookof Kells—Details of its decoration
The Iona Gospels—Contrast with Roman and Byzantine—Details—Treatmentof animal forms—Colour schemes—The Gospel-book ofSt. Columbanus—That of Mael Brith Mac Durnan—The Lindisfarne Gospels—Cumdachs—Otherbook-shrines
Visigothic—Merovingian—Lombardic—Extinction of classic art—Splendidreign of Dagobert—St. Eloy of Noyon—The Library of Laon—NaturalHistory of Isidore of Seville—Elements of contemporaryart—Details of ornament—Symbolism—Luxeuil and Monte Cassino—Sacramentaryof Gellone—“Prudentius”—“Orosius”—Value ofthe Sacramentary of Gellone
The initial and initial paragraph the main object of decoration in Celticillumination—Study of the letter L as an example—The I of “Inprincipio” and the B of “Beatus Vir”
Transition from Iona to Lindisfarne—Influence of Frankish art—The“Opus Anglicum”—The Winchester school and its characteristics—Whenceobtained—Method of painting—Examples—Where foundand described