Here is the line drawing, and here is the color version.

This work is based on a book of hours, use of Rome, pictured in Western European Illuminated Manuscripts of the 8^th to 16^th Centuries, referenced in the bibliography linked below.

Initially, the border covered all four sides of the scroll. However, I was unable to complete it before it needed to be stamped and signed. As you can see, the stamp was inadvertently placed right in the section intended to hold the lower border. Before choosing the design you see here, I considered dropping the border below the stamp and just drawing and painting the lower border as if the stamp was not there. However, the former option would have left no framing space and the later option made the whole bottom section look a mess. I am currently considering coloring in the arms and mantling of the stamp with a wash of color, that the stamp might blend in a bit more, as if it was a part of the illumination, but I am not yet certain that this is something I definitely want to do.

Materials used:

• Commercial Gouache: Cad Red Medium, Madder Carmine, Vermilion, Red Ochre, Ultramarine Blue, Green Lake, Titanium White, Permanent White.
• Handmade paints: Ultramarine Blue Deep, Gold, Lampblack.
• Higgens Waterproof Drawing Ink
• Lana Laid Acid free, hot press paper.

Tools were:

• Mechanical Pencil
• Ruler
• Technical Pen
• Ames lettering guide
• Rotering portable drafting board
• Penholder and Michel nib
• Round brushes, size 3/0, 1, 3
• Vinyl eraser

I used the usual procedure to create this work. I did the layout in pencil first, did the calligraphy with the ink, holder, and nib, finished the drawing, inked it with the technical pen, and painted--first the background colors, then the white detailing--and lastly, touched up any areas of the lining that needed to be reinforced. If you have questions, you may contact me at merouda@hotmail.com.

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Copyright 1999, Elise (Elyse) C. Boucher