The relationship between illuminators and scribes
The relationship that existed between illuminators and scribes plays an important part in understanding both how the manuscript was created (i.e. the workflow involved), as well as helping to distinguish between the different individuals involved in its creation (Meehan 1994b ; Henry 1974).
Bearing this in mind, it has been speculated that 'Hand A' tended to leave spaces as was transcribing the text. These spaces were to be filled in with ornamented text at a later date. 'Hand B', on the other hand, in a demonstration of his exhuberant nature, "tended to use the text itself as a descriptive device" according to Meehan (1994b). Similar to 'Hand A', he also left room on the page to add in illustrations at a later point in time. As for the Hands 'C' and 'D', Meehan proposes that these individuals should be thought of as 'artist-scribes'. He links this reasoning to the fact that the movement from the text to illustration is seemless. He notes that no disturbances (i.e. the changing of writing/drawing utensils) is visible on the page under a microscope. It can be seen that sometimes this planning with regard to space was ignored. Some of the ornamental lettering on some of the Folios is to be found in the margins; one can speculate that perhaps no room was left for decorative illustration and the illuminator made do with the free space on the page available to him.
Bearing this in mind, it has been speculated that 'Hand A' tended to leave spaces as was transcribing the text. These spaces were to be filled in with ornamented text at a later date. 'Hand B', on the other hand, in a demonstration of his exhuberant nature, "tended to use the text itself as a descriptive device" according to Meehan (1994b). Similar to 'Hand A', he also left room on the page to add in illustrations at a later point in time. As for the Hands 'C' and 'D', Meehan proposes that these individuals should be thought of as 'artist-scribes'. He links this reasoning to the fact that the movement from the text to illustration is seemless. He notes that no disturbances (i.e. the changing of writing/drawing utensils) is visible on the page under a microscope. It can be seen that sometimes this planning with regard to space was ignored. Some of the ornamental lettering on some of the Folios is to be found in the margins; one can speculate that perhaps no room was left for decorative illustration and the illuminator made do with the free space on the page available to him.