The Scriptorium Collective. in the Protestant Theological University

Transcription

1 The Scriptorium Collective in the Protestant Theological University

2 What is the Scriptorium Collective? The Scriptorium Collective is an independent consortium of researchers, craftsmen and curators of university libraries concerned with the production, usage and research of religious books. The Scriptorium Collective builds on the activities of the research group Sources of the PThU.

3 Specialism Research, education and practice (craftmanship) have grown apart due to the high levels of specialism in different academic disciplines. The old traditions of the production and usage of manuscripts are unknown to many of the scientists who study this heritage. And valorisation A movement, where science is supported by learning by doing, in this case by the practice of craftmanship found in old traditions. Science and research activities are made accessible for a broader public. Where research and practice meet

4 Aim of the Scriptorium Collective The primary aim of the Scriptorium Collective is to bring together science and practical experience concerning the production, usage and study of religious books, by means of interactive activities at the PThU, as well as at other universities. It was fascinating to work with papyrus and to experience how it is to write on this material with a pen made of reed or bamboo. My admiration for the regular handwriting in the old papyrus manuscripts has grown greatly. The presentation of the process of production of parchment and old codices was impressing. Thus theoretical knowledge comes more to life. Prof Riemer Roukema

5 Science 1 AIM: To introduce researchers, students and other interested parties to practice-oriented theological science from the angle of the hand-made production of religious books, as these were manufactured in the Middle Ages and are still manufactured today, on the basis of the handwritten documents. To make the experience behind the production of religious manuscripts (which were all manufactured for practical ends and were intended for practical usage) accessible in a new manner, primarily for an academic public. To open up knowledge to groups other than professional scientists: active in churches, monasteries, eduction and the general public.

6 Science 2 Practical value to science: Via the Scriptorium, researchers of religious books gain insight into: The composition and practical arrangement of scrolls (Torah scrolls) and books bound under cover (Sinaiticus) in connection with their content; Liturgical and other apparatuses (marginalia, paratextual elements) found in handwritten books, that have been lost in subsequent printed editions; Old textual arrangements that are paleographically visible in the manuscripts and that are interesting for hermeneutics; Script forms with emphasis on the exceptional characteristics (textual variants) in the integral manuscripts; Use of the manuscripts in different communities, open a window on the intrinsic value of the documents.

7 Manuscript production AIM: To make new handwritten productions based on actual mansucripts and executed by craftsmen, in order to be able to study the production process of manuscripts from start to finish and to gain insight into the value and function of the old documents in their original religious context. This gives insight into: o The arrangement and form of books with religious content; o Codicology, with a view to practical usage; o Choice of material; parchment, papyrus and other materials; o The practice of calligraphy; o Functional ornamentation and initials; o Functional iconography; o Choice of format, binding by hand, and the production of covers.

8 Library AIM: To involve the PThU library (and other university libraries) in Scriptorium activities; To reduce the anonymity of manuscripts that are often stored away in library depots, or displayed behind glass in museums, out of reach of researchers, students, and the public; To make old religious books optimally accessible through digitisation of manuscripts, where this is not yet the case; To facilitate craftsmen by means of a mobile Scriptorium in the PThU, for researchers, students and visitors.

9 Education AIM: Knowledge transfer via the Scriptorium Collective to students, through demonstrations and workshops; Workshops with craftsmen in cooperation with researchers and curators of manuscript collections from the PThU and other universities; Scriptorium days for diferent audiences.

10 Knowledge dissemination AIM: To facilitate the visibility of Scriptorium activities on a PThU/Scriptorium website; To ask attention for the ancient crafts involved in manuscript prodution by means of demonstrations conducted by experienced craftsmen, with a view to the production of new books in the PThU; To conduct workshops in calligraphy, iconography, ornamentation, parchment making, book binding, held by craftsmen, for researchers, students, and other interested parties. On 15 May 2017 I participated in one of the Scriptorium days in Amsterdam. It was a fascinating and also fun day, during which we were introduced to many different aspects of manuscript production. In particular our attempts at writing with a quill on parchment led to much amusement. I myself gave a short introduction into the so-called paratext, those elements that direct the reader in a certain direction. Issues as page design, spacing, titles and subtitiles and of course illustrations contribute to a first assessment and understanding of a text. Even without reading the text we can often determine at a glance to which genre a text belongs. As example I referred to the Esther scroll, which is easily recognisable by its frequently small, lying format, as well as by the many colourful illustrations. Prof Dineke Houtman

11 Activities 1 Research 1. Practice-oriented research to support the publication of new editions of the Tetraevangelion including manuscript apparatuses (synoptic and liturgical); 2. Practice-oriented research to support the publication of new editions of the Praxapostolos including manuscript apparatuses (Euthalian and liturgical); 3. Evaluative research of textual and content aspects of the synoptic apparatus in Gospel mansucripts (Ammonian-Eusebian); 4. Research of the Psalms according to Hebrew and Greek manuscript and reading traditions. 5. Research of the Torah scroll according to Hebrew-Rabbinic traditions. Education 1. Practical Scriptorium college courses for students of OT, NT and Church History, about: book binding in practice preparation of parchment for scroll and codex Sinaiticus calligraphy in practice (Greek) writing a Torah scroll (Hebrew) iconography in old books initials and ornaments in books 2. Support by Scriptorium Collective members in dissertations and assignments; 3. Contributions to summer schools; 4. Workshops for ministers in the context of postacademic education. Concrete activities from 1 January 2018

12 Activities 2 Production 1. Sinaiticus calligraphy project of the Gospel of St John by calligrapher ArieTrum (process + product) Product = manuscript on parchment, hand bound and film/photos of the process; 2. Torah scroll calligraphy project by sofer Shimon Koppenhol Product = manuscript on parchment and film/photos of the process; 3. Handwritten pages from the Gospel of St Matthew (Sermon on the Mount) in Dutch by calligrapher Freed Schmitter, with icon of the Evangelist Matthew by iconographer David Chichua; 4. Illumination of Psalms on parchment by Jaap Boerman; 5. Monumental epigraphy of the Words of Wisdom on marble, by philologist and sculptor Loek Schönbeck. Knowledge dissemination 1. Furbishing of Scriptorium atelier in PThU, 2x per month, with craftsmen (open to students, researchers and public); 2. Website with presentation of activities of the Scriptorium Collective.

13 Cooperation* * Various universities and libraries have cooperated / participated in Scriptoriumdays University of Utrecht, Faculty of Humanities University of Utrecht, Special Collections (Library) VU Amsterdam University, Faculty of Theology VU Amsterdam University, Special Collections (Library) University of Tilburg Jewish Cultural Quarter (museum) Ets Haim Library

14 Contributors to the Scriptorium Collective* Researchers Craftsmen Prof. Klaas Spronk (PThU) Prof. Annette Merz (PThU) Dr. Lieve Teugels (PThU) PhD student Ernst Boogert (PThU) Prof. August den Hollander (VU) Prof. Emile Schrijver (UvA and Director of the Jewish Cultural Quarter) Prof. Marco Mostert (UU) Prof. Bert Jan Lietaert Peerbolte (VU) Dr. Jan Krans (PThU) Prof. Dineke Houtman (PThU) Dr. Stefan Royé (CBM coordinator) Calligrapher Arie Trum Sofer Shimon Koppenhol Icon painter David Chichua Mss illuminator/calligrapher Jaap Boerman Calligrapher/Typographer Freed Schmitter Artist/Philologist/Typographer Loek Schönbeck Parchment makers Dick & Ellen Timmerman Book binder/book restoration expert Hans Pieterse * Researchers, craftsmen and curators contribute to Scriptorium activities on an ad-hoc basis

15 Contributors to the Scriptorium Collective* Curators (Libraries) Organisation & coordination Wiljan Puttenstein (PThU Library) Bart Jaski (UU Special Collections) Willemien van Dijk (VU Special Collections) Heide Warncke (Ets Haim) Prof. Klaas Spronk, programme manager Dr. Stefan Royé, programme coordinator For more information, projects, agenda, how to participate, see: * Researchers, craftsmen and curators contribute to Scriptorium activities on an ad-hoc basis

16 In practice

17 Calligrapher Arie Trum

18 Sofer Shimon Koppenhol

19 Calligrapher /Typographer Freed Schmitter

20 Icon painter David Chichua

21 Manuscript illuminator / Calligrapher Jaap Boerman

22 Parchment maker Dick Timmerman

23 Parchment maker Ellen Timmerman

24 Book binder/book restoration expert Hans Pieterse

25 Artist, classical philologist, typographer Loek Schönbeck

26 NT papyrus researcher Ernst Boogert

27 Coordinator Stefan Royé