Kievan, Rus, and Slavic Illumination By Lady Mariia Kotok
Contrary to common belief This type of Eastern European Illumination is as varied as its
Western European relative ! There are actually many Lovely extant examples of Period Russ and
Slavic Illumination available for examination! Although similarities can certainly be found between
them so can differences. Both of these are what I hope to teach you about in this class so you will
be better prepared to duplicate the style you desire accurately
Part 1
In this section we will begin with an overview of styles and exemplars so you can get a better idea
of what was done where! The exemplars are on various web sites. I will provide links in order to
avoid any copyright issues. Please take the time to examine each one of them so you may notice
the primary style varieties.
__________________________________________________
Written in Church Slavonic the Ostromir Gospel is the oldest dated East Slavic book. It was
made by deacon Gregory for his patron, Posadnik Ostromir of Novgorod, in 1056 or 1057. This
example shows a decided Byzantine influence.
http:/www./libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaStpetersburg/treasures_en.xml
10th or 11th centuery
http://www.schaeken.
nl/lu/research/online/publications/akslstud/album_akslhss/pages/04_codex_assemanianus_jpg.
htm
1072 Archangel Gospel Russian
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/mdm/1997/eng/russia_1/intro.html
From Miroslav Gospel 1187 shows more of a middle -eastern style.
http://www.montenegro.org/gospel.html
XIV century, Novgorod. Novgorod Psalter Slightly Celtic look.
http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaStpetersburg/treasures_en.xml
The 1397 Kiev Psalter is one of the most famous East Slavic illumination manuscripts.
It was Created by the Kievan scribe Spiridon.
Http://www.currentmiddleages.org/artsci/documents/The_Kiev_Psalter.pdf
http://www.nlr.ru/eng/nlr/manuscript/slavonic.htm
It’s miniatures are reminiscent of Byzantine illumination style.
The Oktoikh manuscript is the first known printed book of the Cyrillic script. 1400's
http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaMoscow/treasures_en.xml
The Khitrovo Gospel is widely known by its’ eight miniatures and ornaments of Andrei Rublyov
and other artists. Late 14th early 15th century.
http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaMoscow/treasures_en.xml
This manuscript is in Church Slavonic on PAPER, Monastery of Neamtu, Moldavia, ca. 1450
by Gabriel Uric of Neamtu
BIBLE: GOSPELS WITH PROLOGUES BY THEOPHYLACT OF BULGARIA
http://www.nb.no/baser/schoyen/4/4.1/415.html
From the Turnovo region four Bulgarian. Gospels from the end of the 14th c.
http://www.coe.int/.../3.
_Projects_and_Programmes/PTA_Bulgaria_HolyTransfigurationMonastery_APP.pdf?L=E -
Supplemental Result -
Octateuch 13th c.
Vatopedi Cod. 602
Parchment
13th*14th century
http://www.culture.gr/ 2/21/218/e21800.html
Radzivill or Kenigsberg Chronicle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Great_standing_on_the_Ugra_river_2.jpg
Standing on the Ugra river. 1480.
Miniature in russian chronicle. XVI century.
Muscovite 15th century
http://russia.nypl.org/history/moscowref1.html
1520 Poland
http://drwagnernet.com/40a/lecture-view.cfm?lecture=8&image=45
Slavonic on PAPER, Russia, 1550-1560 Balkan style
headpieces of interlocking designs of circles with interlaced strap work filled in red, yellow, green
and blue with black and white dots.
Http://www.nb.no/baser/schoyen/4/4.1/415.html
Church Slavonic on vellum, Bulgaria or Serbia, late 1590
http://www.nb.no/baser/schoyen/4/4.1/415.html
Capital letter from 1590 sale of building contract done in Slavic with many of the signatures
Polish.It is an extract from the books of the Supreme Tribunal Court.
http://pergamentai.mch.mii.lt/IstoriniaiLietDok/indexen.en.htm
Krakow Antiphonal (musical notation on page)
http://www.apismo.ap.krakow.pl/ nr8/kola.html
Contrary to common belief This type of Eastern European Illumination is as varied as its
Western European relative ! There are actually many Lovely extant examples of Period Russ and
Slavic Illumination available for examination! Although similarities can certainly be found between
them so can differences. Both of these are what I hope to teach you about in this class so you will
be better prepared to duplicate the style you desire accurately
Part 1
In this section we will begin with an overview of styles and exemplars so you can get a better idea
of what was done where! The exemplars are on various web sites. I will provide links in order to
avoid any copyright issues. Please take the time to examine each one of them so you may notice
the primary style varieties.
__________________________________________________
Written in Church Slavonic the Ostromir Gospel is the oldest dated East Slavic book. It was
made by deacon Gregory for his patron, Posadnik Ostromir of Novgorod, in 1056 or 1057. This
example shows a decided Byzantine influence.
http:/www./libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaStpetersburg/treasures_en.xml
10th or 11th centuery
http://www.schaeken.
nl/lu/research/online/publications/akslstud/album_akslhss/pages/04_codex_assemanianus_jpg.
htm
1072 Archangel Gospel Russian
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/mdm/1997/eng/russia_1/intro.html
From Miroslav Gospel 1187 shows more of a middle -eastern style.
http://www.montenegro.org/gospel.html
XIV century, Novgorod. Novgorod Psalter Slightly Celtic look.
http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaStpetersburg/treasures_en.xml
The 1397 Kiev Psalter is one of the most famous East Slavic illumination manuscripts.
It was Created by the Kievan scribe Spiridon.
Http://www.currentmiddleages.org/artsci/documents/The_Kiev_Psalter.pdf
http://www.nlr.ru/eng/nlr/manuscript/slavonic.htm
It’s miniatures are reminiscent of Byzantine illumination style.
The Oktoikh manuscript is the first known printed book of the Cyrillic script. 1400's
http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaMoscow/treasures_en.xml
The Khitrovo Gospel is widely known by its’ eight miniatures and ornaments of Andrei Rublyov
and other artists. Late 14th early 15th century.
http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/RussiaMoscow/treasures_en.xml
This manuscript is in Church Slavonic on PAPER, Monastery of Neamtu, Moldavia, ca. 1450
by Gabriel Uric of Neamtu
BIBLE: GOSPELS WITH PROLOGUES BY THEOPHYLACT OF BULGARIA
http://www.nb.no/baser/schoyen/4/4.1/415.html
From the Turnovo region four Bulgarian. Gospels from the end of the 14th c.
http://www.coe.int/.../3.
_Projects_and_Programmes/PTA_Bulgaria_HolyTransfigurationMonastery_APP.pdf?L=E -
Supplemental Result -
Octateuch 13th c.
Vatopedi Cod. 602
Parchment
13th*14th century
http://www.culture.gr/ 2/21/218/e21800.html
Radzivill or Kenigsberg Chronicle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Great_standing_on_the_Ugra_river_2.jpg
Standing on the Ugra river. 1480.
Miniature in russian chronicle. XVI century.
Muscovite 15th century
http://russia.nypl.org/history/moscowref1.html
1520 Poland
http://drwagnernet.com/40a/lecture-view.cfm?lecture=8&image=45
Slavonic on PAPER, Russia, 1550-1560 Balkan style
headpieces of interlocking designs of circles with interlaced strap work filled in red, yellow, green
and blue with black and white dots.
Http://www.nb.no/baser/schoyen/4/4.1/415.html
Church Slavonic on vellum, Bulgaria or Serbia, late 1590
http://www.nb.no/baser/schoyen/4/4.1/415.html
Capital letter from 1590 sale of building contract done in Slavic with many of the signatures
Polish.It is an extract from the books of the Supreme Tribunal Court.
http://pergamentai.mch.mii.lt/IstoriniaiLietDok/indexen.en.htm
Krakow Antiphonal (musical notation on page)
http://www.apismo.ap.krakow.pl/ nr8/kola.html
Part 2
In this section we shall explore a few characteristics of the exemplars.
------------------------------------------
Letters are inked most often in Black, red, and gold. Occaisionally some instances of green and
blue are found.
The black ink is truely black and not the brownish oak gall ink.
In some styles designs were outlined in a sepia color.
Different colors of ink were often used in the body of a document.
Some documents show a distinctive style of inking the periods in a different color
Some go further and float the periods in the middle of the line.
------------------------------------------
Early examples show heavy celtic, byzantine, and middle-eastern influences. Later examples show
more Italian and German influence.
------------------------------------------
Manuscripts are written in several different languages and many later examples have parallel texts
in two or more languages.
Cyrillic, Glagolithic, Slavonic, Latin, Greek , and many others can be found on Russ documents and
manuscripts.
-------------------------------------------
Decorative designs or motifs are used more often than actual illustrations. Figures are stylized
rather than realistic.
--------------------------------------------
In most examples no attempt seems to have been made to be perfectly symmetrical.
Balanced yes, symmetrical no.
In this section we shall explore a few characteristics of the exemplars.
------------------------------------------
Letters are inked most often in Black, red, and gold. Occaisionally some instances of green and
blue are found.
The black ink is truely black and not the brownish oak gall ink.
In some styles designs were outlined in a sepia color.
Different colors of ink were often used in the body of a document.
Some documents show a distinctive style of inking the periods in a different color
Some go further and float the periods in the middle of the line.
------------------------------------------
Early examples show heavy celtic, byzantine, and middle-eastern influences. Later examples show
more Italian and German influence.
------------------------------------------
Manuscripts are written in several different languages and many later examples have parallel texts
in two or more languages.
Cyrillic, Glagolithic, Slavonic, Latin, Greek , and many others can be found on Russ documents and
manuscripts.
-------------------------------------------
Decorative designs or motifs are used more often than actual illustrations. Figures are stylized
rather than realistic.
--------------------------------------------
In most examples no attempt seems to have been made to be perfectly symmetrical.
Balanced yes, symmetrical no.
Glagolithic
Keivan
Octateuch
Novograd
Octoiikh
Muscovite