RUM Lector Scroll Painting Guide

Lector Level Graduation Scrolls

College of Bardic Arts

This scroll is based on the Manesse Codex, and uses Gothic Littera Bastarda (13th century onward) calligraphy. The vinework is taken from folio 26r, and has green vines and leaves, blue-with-red-tip flowers, and red buds. The musicians are taken from folio 13r; their colors are up to you. In the original, they were somewhat muted, and all with black shoes and hose.

Painted College of Bardic Arts Lector Degree

College of Culinary Sciences

This scroll has illumination taken from a text on medieval plants, and uses Carolingian Minuscule calligraphy (8th to mid-12th century). Around its edge are beans, leeks (on the table with the lady), cherry, melons, onions, and thyme. Use any combination of colors; the original book, where colored, had muted colors. The small spidery-looking circles throughout the drawing are to be painted gold.

Painted College of Culinary Sciences Lector Degree

College of Equestrian Arts

The large illumination in this scroll is based on Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, folio 5v, the month of May, with an added illuminated capital and a small bar-and-ivy, and uses Gothic Textura Quadrata (13th, 14th, and 15th centuries) calligraphy. In the original, the lady wears a bright green dress and rides a white horse, but variations on this may certainly be made.

Painted College of Equestrian Arts Lector Degree

College of Heraldic Arts

This scroll is a Bars & Ivy style with a large illuminated capital and the calligraphy alphabet known as Gothic Textura Prescisus vel sine Pedibus (13th century and onward). Use a balanced mix of red, blue, and gold over the entire scroll, with the exception of the people in the capital—you may use additional colors to paint the herald and scribe, if you wish. The background in the capital is quarterly—paint two opposite quarters red and the other two blue, for instance. Add whitework over all the blue and red. Note that the pointy thorns on the vines are always gold.

Painted College of Heraldic Arts Lector Degree

College of Middle and Far Eastern Studies

This scroll has one block of picture illumination, and the text is a cursive form of Gothic Littera Bastarda (13th century and onward). Use any colors, although of course the scene will largely be greens and tans fading into each other (grass and sand). The sky and river can add blue, the mountains can bring in purple, and some creativity with shading can tie it all together.

Painted College of Middle and Far Eastern Studies Lector Degree

College of Practical Arts

This scroll is a series of little vignettes tied together with vines, and uses Gothic Littera Bastarda (13th century onward) calligraphy. The illumination I based this on had pinkish colored vines with alternating red and blue leaves, and gold drops at the junction of every leaf and vine. The background of each vignette should be diapered, usually with a mix of red, blue, and gold, although other colors may also be used such as lighter blue and red, and green.

Painted College of Practical Arts Lector Degree


Lector Level Graduation Scrolls
College of Bardic Arts This scroll is based on the Manesse Codex, and uses Gothic Littera Bastarda (13th century onward) calligraphy. The vinework is taken from folio 26r, and has green vines and leaves, blue-with-red-tip flowers, and red buds. The musicians are taken from folio 13r; their colors are up to you. In the original, they were somewhat muted, and all with black shoes and hose.

College of Culinary Sciences This scroll has illumination taken from a text on medieval plants, and uses Carolingian Minuscule calligraphy (8th to mid-12th century). Around its edge are beans, leeks (on the table with the lady), cherry, melons, onions, and thyme. Use any combination of colors; the original book, where colored, had muted colors. The small spidery-looking circles throughout the drawing are to be painted gold.

College of Equestrian Arts The large illumination in this scroll is based on Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, folio 5v, the month of May, with an added illuminated capital and a small bar-and-ivy, and uses Gothic Textura Quadrata (13th, 14th, and 15th centuries) calligraphy. In the original, the lady wears a bright green dress and rides a white horse, but variations on this may certainly be made.

College of Heraldic Arts This scroll is a Bars & Ivy style with a large illuminated capital and the calligraphy alphabet known as Gothic Textura Prescisus vel sine Pedibus (13th century and onward). Use a balanced mix of red, blue, and gold over the entire scroll, with the exception of the people in the capital—you may use additional colors to paint the herald and scribe, if you wish. The background in the capital is quarterly—paint two opposite quarters red and the other two blue, for instance. Add whitework over all the blue and red. Note that the pointy thorns on the vines are always gold.

College of Middle and Far Eastern Studies This scroll has one block of picture illumination, and the text is a cursive form of Gothic Littera Bastarda (13th century and onward). Use any colors, although of course the scene will largely be greens and tans fading into each other (grass and sand). The sky and river can add blue, the mountains can bring in purple, and some creativity with shading can tie it all together.

College of Practical Arts This scroll is a series of little vignettes tied together with vines, and uses Gothic Littera Bastarda (13th century onward) calligraphy. The illumination I based this on had pinkish colored vines with alternating red and blue leaves, and gold drops at the junction of every leaf and vine. The background of each vignette should be diapered, usually with a mix of red, blue, and gold, although other colors may also be used such as lighter blue and red, and green.