Manuscript Book mural in Evolution of the Book series 1896

John White Alexander painted this mural showing manuscript book production, part of his "Evolution of the Book" series, in 1896. Look closely, and you’ll see the artist has chosen a muted palette, focusing attention on the production of the manuscript: from the laborious writing with quill and ink, to the communal checking and copying processes. Alexander, trained in both decorative and ‘fine’ arts, employed traditional techniques. He rendered the scene with smooth, flowing brushstrokes, almost reverential in their depiction of monastic labor. The work conveys the idea of ​​knowledge being meticulously hand-crafted. Before industrialisation transformed the printing process, each book was the product of focused work, taking months, even years to complete. By choosing this subject, Alexander draws our attention to the vast changes that took place in this industry, and the loss of value in labour inherent in mass production. The mural serves as a reminder of the human effort embedded in every page.