Annunciation 

This is a page from a medieval illuminated manuscript, ‘Annunciation,’ made around 1200 by the artist Claricia. It is made with ink and tempera on parchment. The parchment itself has a tactile quality, prepared from animal skin by medieval artisans to create a smooth and durable writing surface. The vivid colors were achieved using natural pigments, carefully ground and mixed with binders like egg yolk, applied with fine brushes to bring the scene to life. The gilded details, catching the light, added to the precious quality of the manuscript. The creation of such a manuscript was labor-intensive, and the quality of materials and the artist's skill reflected the wealth and status of its patron, reminding us that even in sacred art, materiality speaks volumes. Thinking about the materials, making, and context of this artwork helps us understand it more fully, and challenges our traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.