Program Overview

Program Details

The program provided is "L'enluminure médiévale dans tous ses états : approche théorique et pratique" (Medieval Illumination in all its States: Theoretical and Practical Approach).

Presentation

This formation will address both theoretical and practical aspects of the art of medieval illumination: the context of production of illuminated manuscripts, their typology, the working methods of illuminators and technical processes, the relationship between text and image, the market for medieval manuscripts and fragments in France and abroad, the pigments used in illuminations, and the current practice of illumination with demonstrations of illumination processes.

Public

The program is intended for professionals in libraries and book trades, as well as the general public.

Programme

The program will take place from Monday, October 12, 2026, to Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the École nationale des chartes, 65, rue de Richelieu, Paris 2e, from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.

October 12, 2026

• 9:30-11:00 am: The processes of creating illuminations 1/2: production context and socio-economic aspects
• 11:00 am-12:30 pm: The processes of creating illuminations 2/2: the manufacture of decoration
• 2:00-3:30 pm: The pigments used in illuminations
• 3:30-5:00 pm: The materials of color in manuscripts in the light of analyses

October 13, 2026

• 9:30-11:00 am: Typology of illuminated manuscripts
• 11:00 am-12:30 pm: Databases, Mandragore, Initiale, ...
• 2:00-5:00 pm: Typology of manuscripts and illuminated decoration with presentation of manuscripts

October 14, 2026

• 9:30 am-12:30 pm: The market for medieval manuscripts and fragments in France and abroad
• 2:00-5:00 pm:
  • The current practice of illumination: between heritage and modernity, the search for a know-how
  • Illustration of the process presiding over the realization of an illumination
  • Demonstration and presentation of materials and tools used

Intervenants

The program will feature the following intervenants:

• Ariane Adeline, libraire
• Lucy Cooper, Bibliothèque nationale de France
• Sabine Maffre, conservateur de bibliothèques, Bibliothèque nationale de France
• Charlotte Denoël, conservateur en chef des bibliothèques au Département des manuscrits de la Bibliothèque nationale de France
• Béatrice Balloy, enlumineuse

Tarifs

The tariffs for the program are as follows:

• If you are a student or doctoral student, please contact the formation continue department at the École nationale des chartes.
• If your institution or organization is part of the public sector, the registration fee will be indicated as "public" (690 €).
• If your institution or organization is part of the private sector, the registration fee will be indicated as "private" (1,380 €).