International studio (47.1912)

Modern Illuminations



ILLUMINATED ADDRESS ON VELLUM

BY IVY HARPER

In its essence the art of
illumination is the evolu-
tion of beautiful hand-
writing. It was not enough
to write legibly : the feeling
which prompts us to do our
best for the delight of doing
it prompted the earliest
writers to write beautifully,
and then to ornament their
letters and, finally, their
pages. “ Perfect illumina-
tion,” writes John Ruskin,
“is only writing made
lovely,” and the simplicity
of this statement is in
keeping with the highest
traditions of the art. Illu-
mination should not be the
adding of beauty to letter-
ing, but lettering made
beautiful, a fundamental

It is on this basis that we get beautiful editions,
and publishers vie with each other in the produc-
tion of eye-charming literature. And it is here that
lies the great possibility at all times for the hand-
work of the illuminator. It is encouraging to find
that even to-day, when the production of cheap
editions has become a craze, there is a demand for
hand-decorated work, chiefly for the use of churches
and for private collectors who appreciate and love
to possess unique volumes, artistically decorated.
The modern illuminator can find scope for his art
not only in the pages of a volume, but also in

truth in art applicable to many branches, and one
which has lamentably been forgotten since the
advent of the easel picture and the separation of
art from decoration.
Being one of the purest expressions of art, the
history of illumination dates back to the unknown
mysteries of forgotten times, when primitive races
took delight in decorating whatever met their eye.
The Egyptians decorated some of their papyri, and
no doubt other races whose recorded history is lost
did the same. About the beginning of the Christian
era we find the first links of the chain leading up to

supplying a fairly constant
demand for decorated
memorials, diplomas, testi-
monials, and similar docu-
ments, suitable for display.
This in itself is a wide
field, and one in which a
conscientious worker finds
ready remuneration. There
can, however, be no doubt
as to which branch of work
is the nobler, for in many
instances memorials and
testimonials make a bid
for publicity and ostenta-
tion, whereas in the
decorating of a book the
illuminator merely gives
beauty of form to what is al-
ready beautiful to the mind.


PEELE’S “ FAREWELL TO ARMS.” LETTERED AND ILLUMINATED BY PHCEBE RENNELL

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