Virgo 

Around the year 1200, the nun Claricia illuminated this calendar page in a German-speaking monastery using ink and tempera on parchment. Parchment-making was a labor-intensive process. Animal skins had to be carefully prepared through soaking, liming, stretching, and scraping, which took several days, maybe even weeks. The labor doesn't stop there. The page contains a carefully organized arrangement of text, astrological symbols, and decorative elements. The structure of the page is laid out within an architectural framework of columns and arches, each painted in bright colors. Look closer, and you’ll see a small self-portrait of Claricia herself, peeking out from above the arches. Monastic life meant long hours of work, both physical and intellectual. This manuscript page provides a glimpse into the world of medieval book production, and also serves as evidence of women's participation in artmaking at the time. The great care with which it was crafted stands in testament to the dedication of the nun who made it.