Abstract

The overlooked art of late medieval English manuscript illumination—its initials, borders, and non-figurative designs—finally receives its first book-length examination. Far from being mere decoration, the designs that adorned manuscripts during the age of Chaucer, the Wars of the Roses, and the rise of the Tudors reveal a dynamic visual culture long dismissed by art historians. In this groundbreaking work, Kathleen E. Kennedy argues that English aniconic illumination—ornament that avoids depicting human figures—offers vital insights into aesthetics, communication, and design in a transformative period of history. Kennedy demonstrates how these manuscripts embody early Renaissance artistic strategies and anticipate modern notions of user experience.

Bridging medieval studies, media studies, design history, and communications, Illuminating Media highlights the surprising endurance of these visual strategies in contemporary culture, from the design of passports to the layout of currency. Written in crisp, engaging prose, the book offers a new way of seeing both medieval art and modern design, making a powerful case for the value of interdisciplinary scholarship.