CHAPTER XII

SIMPLE ILLUMINATION IN BLACK AND RED

A good deal of very effective work can be done by using black and red only. The student should be able to do good work in this way before attempting to use gold and colours.

A method for setting out the page, before commencing to write, is shown plainly in Fig. 25. For this purpose a tee-square and set-square are required, together with a pair of spring dividers and a sharply-pointed HB. pencil. The approximate size of the page and the distance between the lines of lettering must be decided. Then the margins at the top and the two sides must be marked out, and the upright lines drawn in by means of the set-square. The distance between the lines of lettering is then pricked off down one side with the spring dividers. The lines can then be ruled across against the tee-square. A word of caution is perhaps needed here: the pencil should be held as shown in the diagram, and kept at the same angle during the ruling of the line. If this rule is not carefully observed, it is possible to start with the point of the pencil close up against the edge of the tee-square, or set-square, and finish the line with it about one-sixteenth of an inch away from it. If this habit is developed, the lines of lettering will hardly ever be quite straight and even. Another important detail is to see that the tee-square rests tightly against the edge of the board, and the set-square against the tee-square.

It will be found that an HB. pencil is the most satisfactory grade for ruling the lines with, as if used lightly the lines can be cleaned off quite easily afterwards with a piece of soft rubber. Some illuminators recommend an H. or HH. pencil for this, but, although these keep a sharp point longer, the lines produced are not so easily erased.

After ruling the page the next thing to be settled is the size of the initial letter. It should be lightly sketched in with the pencil. It is best to use the writing lines to govern the size of this. For example, the size of this letter might be four or five lines down.

It is very effective to have the first few words in capitals. Several different arrangements are shown in Fig. 25. The position of these may be roughly planned out in pencil. They may then be written in red straight away, or may be left until after the black lettering is done. It is best not to finish the initial until after the lettering is done.

When the position of the initial and the opening words is determined, the black lettering should be proceeded with. The student should endeavour to ensure perfect freedom in working, also to aim at preventing the writing from looking as if a great deal of trouble had been taken to make it fit and space well. For anyone to derive any joy out of it, there must be a feeling of spontaneity and freedom about it. He should allow his imagination to work when writing. If he studies the words that he is writing he is bound to have suggestions come to his mind. For example, perhaps one verse seems to stand out very prominently, and it is felt that it would be better if written entirely in red. Or, again, another verse seems to start a new line of thought, and a fresh initial is suggested.

After the writing is completed, attention should be paid to the initial and the decoration. A good method for the beginner is to fix a sheet of tracing-paper over the page; as the lettering shows plainly through, there is plenty of opportunity for experimenting with decoration.

Some good types of letters suitable for initials are shown in Fig. 26. The first alphabet is based largely on a type of letter used in the eleventh century, while the second one is a free rendering of thirteenth-century letters. These letters are all built up. They may be made with either pen or brush.

Building up these letters with strokes made with the pen or brush is excellent practice for the student. For constructing the letters in the first alphabet the pen will probably be found to be the best tool. These letters are constructed in a similar manner to that described in an earlier chapter on forming Roman capitals. Some suggestive details are shown in Fig. 27.

The letters in the second alphabet may be formed much more easily with a brush than with a pen. It will be seen in Fig. 27 how naturally the letter is filled in with the brush, the end of the stroke terminating in a small knob. For filling in the letters in this way a brush should be used quite full of colour, and it should also have; a good point.

After having a fair amount of practice in forming letters in this way the student will soon be able to produce them quickly and easily.

The terminals of these letters may be drawn out if necessary, or they may be joined up with the border. The student should take note, from the examples given in the previous chapter, of the manner in which the initial was used in the past as a starting-point for the decoration.

Vermilion is a good red for this purpose. There are several varieties sold, known by various names, such as scarlet vermilion, orange vermilion, vermilion, and Chinese vermilion. The kind known simply as vermilion seems to answer best of all. Scarlet and orange vermilion are liable to look somewhat weak. This also applies to the Chinese vermilion we are able to get in this country. Some illuminators prefer to add a little crimson to the vermilion.

It is important that the red should be painted in solid, and not be thin and washy in character. This also applies to the black, which should be a decided black, not inclining to brown or grey. The red should be kept quite bright and clean, care being taken not to get it mixed up with dirty colour in any way. A great deal of the effect depends on the strong black and brilliant red.

In Fig. 28 an initial with a simple border is shown in (_a_). The initial letter and the decoration may be done in red, and also the opening words.

Very decorative arrangements are possible with simple lettering and a fine initial, as in (_b_). When an initial letter is used in this way, without any border, it is best to fit it in with the lettering so that the line of the letter does not project beyond the line of the black lettering. When, however, a simple border is added down the side, it may project, as shown in (_c_).

An interesting arrangement is shown in (_d_), where two columns are used. By the judicious use of red, a fine decorated page is possible if carried out in this style.

The initial O shown here is an example of what can be done with simple pattern work in the way of diapers. In the illuminated manuscripts from the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries a great number of these were used. This simple pattern work is very pleasant, and the student is recommended to study these for himself. He should also study the fine initials with pen-work in red and blue. He can then vary his work by adding blue in addition to red, using a red initial with blue decoration, or _vice versâ_.

The various forms of simple pattern work, made with simple pen-strokes, and shown here, should also claim his attention. He should endeavour to make borders for himself in this simple way. They may serve as tail-pieces and line finishings, and the construction of these is all good practice in design.

It is excellent practice for the student to write out a number of quotations in this way, in black and red, with nicely-drawn initials and borders of simple pattern work. He should endeavour to guard against making them too florid in treatment, and, above all, should be careful not to employ a lot of meaningless flourishes. The work of the mediæval period affords the best examples for study that he could possibly have.