Art & Culture · 2

What term describes the decorative illustrations, sketches, and doodles that medieval monks drew in the margins of illuminated manuscripts?

Answer

Marginalia

Marginalia refers to the drawings, notes, and decorative elements added in the margins of medieval manuscripts. These ranged from ornamental flourishes to surprisingly irreverent or humorous scenes that monks snuck into the borders of sacred texts.

💡 Did you know?

Medieval monks sometimes drew doodles in manuscript margins so offensive they'd be grounds for dismissal if supervisors noticed them.

Other options people guess

  • Illuminations
  • Vignettes
  • Rubrications

Topics

  • medieval
  • manuscripts
  • art-history
  • monks

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