Manuscripts containing English decoration 871–1066, catalogued and illustrated: a review
Linda L. Brownrigg
In the period from Alfred's reign to Norman Conquest scribes and artists in southern England once more achieved a high standard bookmaking, comparable brilliant tradition which had been established both north south eighth century. Some codices survive are rough execution, written on poorly prepared membrane by unskilled hands, but majority – no means chiefly service books produced for ecclesiastical royal patrons demonstrate that end of tenth century large number understood techniques careful preparation membranes inks, mastered letter-forms two scripts, Caroline minuscule Anglo-Saxon square minuscule, were disciplined follow consistently hierarchy scripts openings texts major divisions, chapter titles, incipits explicits. What remains must be only fragment production Benedictine monks nuns, secular clerks lay scribes. But however incomplete unbalanced evidence, over-all level accomplishment cannot doubted.
Anglo-Saxon England