Illumination of a letter?URGENT, URGENT, URGENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Question

what does it mean to Illuminate a letter

Thanks guys!!! i have to illuminate a letter for homework. But keep sending in answers, please. thanks, again!

Answer 1

Hi! Ilumination is when text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations. In the strictest definition of the term, an illuminated manuscript only refers to manuscripts decorated with gold or silver. However, in both common usage and modern scholarship, the term is now used to refer to any decorated or illustrated manuscript from the Western or Islamic traditions -
Here: Look at these wonderful examples of illuminated letters:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Bernhard_von_Clairvaux_%28Initiale-B%29.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Monk_tasting_wine_from_a_barrel.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Illuminated.bible.closeup.arp.jpg
http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/collections/illuminated//
http://www.fcps.edu/DIS/OHSICS/FineArts/pdfs/Illuminations1.pdf
http://retrokat.com/medieval/le.htm
http://www.hozho.homestead.com/MedievalFestival-IlluminatedLetters.html

Answer 2

In Calligraphy, it means to show what the text is all about, because in the Middle ages so few could read.
So the pages of the Bible and other books were
painted to illustrate what it was all about.
Illuminate means to expand on the contents
of the written word,
either by writing a more detailed account or
by painting a picture so the understanding is very clear.
This can be done by setting examples.
For example in the story , the Scarlett Letter,
she wears a letter "A" for Adultery.
She embellishes it with elaborate embroidery,
so that it is no longer, something ugly.
The letter ends up being a symbol for courage.
So it was Illuminated.
Another example would be in the Christian Bible,
where it tells about the creation of all the animals,
in the Middle Ages, the Bibles of churches would
have had pictures and drawings to show what
the story was all about.
These would be intertwined around the edges
of the pages, so that all persons looking
at the book could understand its meaning.
There is a company called, Dover Publications.
It has a coloring book that shows the alphabet illuminated and it is definitely references from the Christian Bible.
You might like to check it out some time.
http://www.doverpublications.com
When you get to the site type coloring books in the search line there are all sorts of books to enjoy.
There is even a sampler where you can print samples.
I hope that this helps.

Answer 3

An illumination of a letter is usually the first letter or a page of a paragraph. It is always enlarged and in color with gold applied in areas, while the rest of the text remained black. The image used to enhance the letter included animals, plants, or mythological characters. These images are modified to fit into or around the letter, or in some cases took on the shape of the letter itself. Hope that helps you!

Answer 4

Ever seen a very old Bible? The first letter on the page would be all super fancy with gold leaf, painted decorations, and such. The "illuminated" letters were just beautiful artistic letters that made the manuscript look very pretty.

Answer 5

As Websters says

Main Entry:2illuminate
Pronunciation:-*n*t
Function:transitive verb
Inflected Form:-nated ; -nating
Etymology:Middle English, from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare, from in- + luminare to light up, from lumin-, lumen light more at LUMINARY
Date:15th century

1 a : to enlighten spiritually or intellectually b (1) : to supply or brighten with light (2) : to make luminous or shining c archaic : to set alight d : to subject to radiation
2 : to make clear : ELUCIDATE
3 : to make illustrious or resplendent
4 : to decorate (as a manuscript) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures
–illuminatingly \-*n*-ti*-l*\ adverb
–illuminator \-*n*-t*r\ noun

The First Letter of a manuscript would be decorated so that it stood out. This was popular in Medieval Times until the Printing Press made it obsolete.

Answer 6

Um, I googled it and I came up with this: http://kingdomofacre.org/caligraphy.html I don't know if that's what you're looking for, but you can try looking it up too...

Answer 7

Not sure hmmmmmm, let me ponder that one