Cennino d'Andrea Cennini

So you're trying to recreate those medieval or renaissance beautiful illuminated manuscripts, or perhaps a fresco. This is a great place to start.

Cennino (always, for some reason, referred to by his first name) may have been a lousy artist. But he loved to give away those secrets that great artists usually pass down verbally to their apprentices. Here it is -- everything from making gesso (some friends of mine and I tried to make it using his instructions, and found the product works beautifully) to grinding pigments (to make ultramarine one must grind lapis lazuli in an oil base rather than water) to preparing parchment for use.

I teach calligraphy and illumination. In my beginners' classes, I recommend two books. This is one of them.… (more)