Miniature

An independent illustration, as opposed to a scene incorporated into another element of the decorative scheme such as a border or initial.

An independent illustration, as opposed to a scene incorporated into another element of the decorative scheme such as a border or initial. It takes its name from the Latin miniare, meaning 'to colour with red' (the adornment of books originally was executed in red, or minium).

[With manuscript art, the term miniature does not refer to the size of the item. Indeed, miniatures can cover an entire page.]

  • Amharic:
    (ተራኪ) ሥዕል
  • Arabic:
    منمنمة
  • Armenian:
    մանրանկարութիւն
  • French:
    miniature
  • German:
    Miniatur
  • Italian:
    miniatura
  • Portuguese:
    miniatura
  • Spanish:
    miniatura

Michelle Brown, Understanding Illuminated Manuscripts (Malibu, CA: J. Paul Getty Museum in association with the British Library, c1994).