The Visitation 

The Limbourg brothers made this page from a Book of Hours using pigments bound in egg tempera or gum arabic. Consider the process involved in making this artwork. The manuscript was made on vellum, which is a painstakingly prepared animal skin. The Latin script and the miniature – or small illustrative painting – were made by hand, by highly skilled artisans. The ultramarine blue of Mary’s robe was derived from ground lapis lazuli, an expensive and precious stone, signaling the patron's wealth. The gold leaf, burnished to a reflective sheen, adds another layer of opulence. The sheer amount of labor involved in creating a book like this speaks volumes about the economic and social context in which it was made. It represents a significant investment of time, skill, and materials, meant to impress and inspire devotion. So next time you see a medieval manuscript, remember that it's a testament to the enduring power of human hands and the value we place on the written word.