Illuminated manuscripts are some of the most beautiful and precious artifacts of the medieval world, but their creation and significance are often shrouded in mystery. In this lavishly illustrated volume, Edward Quaile explores the history of illuminated manuscripts from their origins in the early Christian period to the Renaissance. Whether you're a lover of art or history, this book is sure to captivate and inform. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.