On Divers Arts

"IhavemadeitmyconcerntohuntoutthistechniqueforyourstudyasIlearneditbylookingandlistening."OnDiversArts，c.1122，istheoldestextantmanualonartisticcraftstobewrittenbyapracticingartist.BeforeTheophilus，manuscriptsontheartscamefromscholarsandphilosophersstandingoutsidetheactualprofession.OnDiversArtsdescribesactual12th-centurytechniquesinpainting，glass，andmetalwork，whichtheBenedictineauthorwishedtopassontothosegiftedbyGodwithatalentformakingbeautifulthings.Theophilusteaches，withrigorousattentiontofactbutalsowithgreatreverencethemakingofpigmentsforfrescopainting，themanufactureofglue，thetechniqueofgoldleafonparchment(thefirstrecordedEuropeanreferencetotruepaper)，howtoblowglassanddesignstainedglasswindows，howtofashiongoldandsilverchalices，andhowtomakeapipeorganandchurchbells.Preciseinstructiononenameling，chasing，repoussé，niello，andbeadedwireworkproveTheophilus'sfirst-handknowledgeofhiscraft.
While90percentofTheophilus'swritingissoundtechnicalknowledge，medievalfolkloreoccasionallyspiceshistext："Toolsarealsomadeharderbyhardeningthemintheurineofasmallred-headedboythanbydoingsoinplainwater."ButthemagnificentfactofOnDiversArtremainsitsstatusasthefirsttechnicaltreatiseonpainting，glass，andmetalwork，forwhichactualspecimensstillsurvive.Theeditorshavetakencaretoensurebothphilologicalandtechnologicalaccuracyforthisauthoritativeeditionofamedievalclassic，amanualofgreatimportancetocraftsmen，historiansofartandscience，andallwhodelightinthemakingofthebeautiful.