Introduction:
The ivy plant was a significant symbol and metaphor throughout medieval history, presenting itself as both a plant of magical and religious qualities, coupled with medicinal healing properties. While the plant’s symbolic meaning differs depending on the context, it is clear that it was a common decoration for medieval manuscript borders.
The reason for decorating the borders of medieval manuscripts with ivy vines will be explored in this show, helping to uncover the thoughts and rationale behind cherishing the ivy plant. The main feature of this show will be a French Psalterium that exemplifies the harmonious relationship between ivy illuminations and the characters of a text via border decorations. This show will also explore other manuscripts that contain the artistic usage, religious connotation, and/or presence of the ivy plant throughout history. Thematically, this show will explore the ways that the ivy plant consumes medieval history, both gracing the borders of religious texts and intricately accompanying medicinal texts.