Illumination is the art of "lighting up" a page through the use of illustration to break up text and make it more comprehensible. This work describes the extraordinary skill and artistry that went into the making of these medieval masterpieces and features pages from the finest examples in the collection of the V&A.Illuminated manuscripts are widely recognized as among the most beautiful objects of the western world. This is a book about their making: about the many talents involved in producing the missals, books of hours, brevaries and bibles. Illuminated manuscripts were collaborative productions, with different specialists contributing script, initials, borders, illustration and binding to any work. This study brings individual scribes and book dealers to life and throws light on the commercial and religious environments in which they worked.