Sacred Landscapes: Nature in Renaissance Manuscripts

Green spaces have a universal appeal. Nature's majesty is evident in gardens, farmlands, and especially the untamed wilderness. In Renaissance Europe, many people looked to greenery within the walls of the city and beyond for inspiration and to guide their contemplation of the perceived divine order of creation. Manuscript illuminators were among those who carefully studied the raw elements of nature—such as rocks, trees, flowers, waterways, mountains, and even atmosphere—and incorporated these into luxurious objects of personal or communal devotion.