Mandeville Inspired Laurel Scroll

This is one of my most Period scrolls. It was done for a VERY talented Lady (http://aneira.org/) for her recognition as a laurel.

Laurel Scroll based on The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, plate 3 (Sir John Mandeville writing an account of his voyage), Prague circa 1410. I changed Sir John to Mistress Gwerfyl (Aneira's registred name) and made his servant her son. I changed the colors in the window to match Her Arms and added gold on the flowers plus the Laurel wreath. I tinted the Velum with egg tempera and the entire thing is done in egg tempera except for the white which is an opaque watercolor,. the ink used is oak gall.

She loved it and apparently many have commented on my portraits of her and her son. I wasn't sure I captured them very well.

Silver Osprey

This is a combination Award of Arms and Silver Osprey. The circle with the birds and sword above the kings head is the Silver Osprey (a fighting award) and the shield with the 3 frogs is the Arms of the person this is for. This is based pretty directly from "The Book of Kings" also known as the Morgan picture Bible. It is from the 13th century and is a very extensively illuminated book. This is based on Folio 46 verso and is 8 1/2 x 11, done in egg tempera and gold leaf on velum (the hide not the paper). I did cheat a bit and had to use some micron pen and some Acrylic, but 99% of this is authentically correct for it's period. I HATE gold leaf!

Unusual Scrolls part 2

These are two County scrolls done on 5 foot x 3 foot raw canvas as wall hangings. They are painted in Acrylics and are based on pages from the Codex Manesse.

Unusual Scrolls part 1

I love doing scrolls that ae not the normal flat paper/velum/parchment types. This is one I consider my masterwork. It is a Knighting scroll and was painted on an actual curved wood sheild. While I used modern pigments (Acrylic) I did this totally in period process. It started with a brown underpainting (grisale) and each color was bilt up in layered washes. The armor itself has about 6 layers.  It is 38 x 25, curved wood. It is based on parade/decorative Shields from the Renaissance. I based it on the Archangel Michael from the triptych "The Virgin adoring the Child, the Archangel Raphael with Tobias and the Archangel Michael" by Pietro Perugino, 1500-1505, Florence. The face has been changed and is based on a drawing of a young man by Michelangelo. The words for the scroll are around the border in gold (hard to see in the picture). The person who got this was happy with it and others also complimented me on it. I have bought more wooden sheilds and hope to do more in this style.

(I created the wording myself and am very pleased with it;

To all and singular nobles and gentles pay heed,We Cuan and Padraigin, King and Queen of Atlantia here command your attention. Faith, Hope, Charity, Justice, Prudence, Strength and Temperance, these are the seven virtues of a Knight. By Our will and with the voice of Our Order of Chivalry do we charge Dagonet De Marlowe to live by these words,for we acknowledge his chivalry and martial prowess and hereby elevate him to the rank of Knight of the Society. Further we affirm by letters Patent his right to bear the arms; Sable, a wolf passant argent between three crescents Or. This we have done on the 15^th day of March, A.S. XXXVII in witness whereof We set Our hands.)

                                                          Perugino's Archangel

Welcome

Well, we will see if this Weble gets off the ground. I will try and post my scroll work, pages I find inspiration from and tips or ideas about doing illumination.
My first post I thought long about...I decided to post one of the last scrolls I have done and the page it was based on. This is an AoA commissioned for the recipient. It is mostly Egg Tempera but has Acrylic gold. It is on velum (the skin not the paper) and I used Oak Gall ink. 

Based on "The Master of Dresden Prayer Book" fol. 147, Bruges ca. 1480-85. Done by Master Tristan Alexander A.S. XLVII.