By the 13th century, Illuminated manuscripts had become commonplace in monasteries, medieval churches, and even in the libraries of wealthy laymen across Europe. The title “Illumination” comes from the process of decorating the manuscript with gold leaf, silverpoint drawings, and various plant and lead-based paints. Since few were literate during this period, the illuminations provided illustrations for the Latin text, aiding in deciphering their meaning. Monks became so well known for their art

Hands on History: The Illuminated Manuscript