iBestTravel

Your Gateway to the Best Travel Experiences

Explore Hilarious Medieval Doodles and Rare Manuscripts

Debbie Kelly03 mins

Medieval Doodles: A Glimpse into the Past

700-year-old doodles, what’s changed? —

Medieval scribes had to create their own nibs by whittling the ends of feathers. To test them, they often drew doodles that were never intended to be seen. These doodles are not only fascinating but also filled with creativity. An artist from the past particularly liked to depict weird, hybrid creatures.

The Artistic Process of Medieval Scribes

Sometimes they would test the pen by playing around with variations of illuminated lettering.
Sometimes they would test the pen by playing around with variations of illuminated lettering.

A Window into the Humor of Monks

But it is the funny faces that capture the imagination most, giving us an unprecedented insight into the humor and individuality of medieval monks.
It is the funny faces that capture the imagination most, giving us an unprecedented insight into the humor and individuality of medieval monks.

Doodles as Markers of Importance

It is thought that these doodles, of faces in profile with long, sharp noses, were intended to highlight important sections of text.
These doodles, of faces in profile with long, sharp noses, were intended to highlight important sections of text.

Variety in Artistic Expression

Some of the doodles are rather crude, but they may be depicting a scene of importance to the scribe.
Some of the doodles are rather crude, potentially depicting significant scenes to the scribe.

The Evolution of Doodles

Others are more sophisticated, and demonstrate fledgling artistic talent.
Others display sophistication, showcasing fledgling artistic talent.

The Purpose of Doodles

Scribes also tested their pens with snatches of writing. They normally used their own natural handwriting as opposed to the style required by the manuscript, allowing modern scholars to analyze them more accurately.
Scribes tested their pens with writing, using their natural style, aiding scholars in analysis.

Intriguing Insights from Doodles

It is difficult to miss the sense of humor that underpins many of these medieval doodles. They were an expression of fun in a more austere age.
The humor in these doodles highlights expressions of fun in a more austere age.
Details like this thumb-print give a sense of humanity to the scribes, who lived more than 700 years ago.
Humanity is captured in details like this thumb-print from over 700 years ago.
This doodle, of a man with an oversized crown on his head, contains the first words of the next page to give the reader a 'heads-up'.
This doodle offers the first words of the next page, enhancing readability in a hymn book.

Historical Context and Preservation

This theological book has had musical notes from a hymn drawn into it by a reader, for his own amusement.
This theological book features early examples of musical notation, drawn for amusement.
These concentric diagrams may have been experiments in mathematics.
Concentric diagrams may represent early experiments in mathematics.
These fragments of rare manuscripts were found hidden inside the binding of medieval books.
Fragments of rare manuscripts discovered within medieval book bindings.
The calligraphy is beautiful, but handwritten books had fallen out of fashion.
Beautiful calligraphy witnessed a decline with the advent of the printing press in the 15th Century.
The careless way in which the manuscripts were thrust into the covers shows that, ironically enough, they only survived because they were not valued at all.
The casual treatment of these manuscripts ironically contributed to their survival.


Related Posts

Back To Top