Scroll 04 · Italian Renaissance · 30 Mar 2002

Dragon's Blood

For Thomas Dudley · Dragonsspine Baronial award (Feast of Fools, 6 Apr 2002)

Design

15th century Italian Renaissance design. Freehand, no traced elements. Overall design and Acanthus vines inspired by Psalter & Missal excerpts from "The Whetenal Psalter" (MS. Don. d 85, fol 29r Psalm 38). Detail of Dragon's head in capital D inspired by "Breviary of Martin of Aragon", 15th century, from page "Prophet Isaiah" (BNF, ROTH 2529 fol. 105v).

Hand

Italian Rotunda, from "Calligraphy & Illumination" by Patricia Lovett, pg 83.

Colors & Details

Gold leaf used for major elements (using acrylic size from Mistress Tatiana's gold leaf class). Windsor & Newton gold ink used for straight border elements and gold line work within the capital D (done with fine brush). Schmincke gouache used for blue, red, and white work. White shading done with diluted gouache and blended with just water in brush.

Related References

Whetenal Psalter, MS. Don. d. 85 — Digital Bodleian — Bodleian Library's full high-resolution digitization of the Whetenal Psalter, including fol. 29r.
Bréviaire de Martin d'Aragon (Rothschild 2529) — Gallica BnF — BnF Gallica's complete digitization of the Breviary of Martin of Aragon, c.1398–1410, made for the Cistercian monastery of Poblet.