Painting with Inks and Writing with Paints
Colour Technology and Materiality in the Practice of Armenian Scriptoria
Individual Research Project
© J. Paul Getty Museum
Całkel is an Armenian term that refers to the act of illuminating a manuscript. It literally means ‘to bloom’ or ‘to embellish with flowers’. Armenian artists spared no effort or imagination in rendering the perfection of this mastery, transforming their work into enduring beauty of art and colour. They carefully kept their knowledge of colour-making as an exclusive craft, transmitting it within workshops. This knowledge has been preserved in technical texts such as recipes and instructions, primarily found in various treatises and compilations related to art, alchemy, and medicine. Studying these written sources can provide valuable insights necessary for understanding the materiality of manuscripts.
In this project, I aim to deepen our understanding of colour-making practices within the Armenian scriptorial tradition, with a particular focus on identifying patterns uniquely manifested in the local context. More specifically, I explore the craftsmanship and technology behind certain colour recipes that represent a seamless transition between paints and inks — hereafter referred to as ‘colour inks’. These colour inks are used profusely in Armenian manuscripts, both in the texts and in illuminations. The concept of colour inks emerged from my observations of art technological sources preserved in the Armenian language, where the terms deł (paint) and t῾anak῾ (ink) appear simultaneously in numerous recipes. The latter, apparently, seems to have been applied in manuscripts in both ways — as paint and as ink. At this preliminary stage, I position these compounds between paints and inks, as they are described for writing purposes but do not conform to the classic formulation of writing inks, such as black inks made from gallnuts, vitriol, and gum arabic. My aim is to gain a clearer understanding of the practical purposes, technological processes, and material composition of these Armenian colour inks.
To narrow the broad concept of colour inks, this project focuses specifically on those derived from plant sources, for three reasons: (i) plant dyes are highly indicative of particular cultures and geographic regions, offering valuable insights into various cultural and societal factors; (ii) understanding and recovering knowledge of how these plant-based colour inks were prepared can contribute to the reassessment of intangible heritage (i.e. texts on historical recipes) while also providing references to tangible heritage, such as the inks and paints used in manuscripts; and (iii) plant-based organic dyes are prone to fading and severe degradation over time, making their in-depth study essential for developing effective conservation and restoration strategies to preserve these natural colours.
When studying written artefacts, and their colours in particular, it is extremely helpful to refer to art technological sources and historical recipe reproductions. However, it is equally important to examine the colours in original manuscripts. In this way, the symbiotic assessment of both reproduced references and original artefacts complements and validates each other, guiding responsible decisions and analytical protocols. Additionally, it helps in accurately interpreting the preservation state of the materials and understanding certain aesthetic choices made by the artists.
In this project, I integrate methodologies from Philology, Art Technology, and Archaeometry, combining work across archival, laboratory, and museum settings. I reproduce colour inks according to Armenian written sources, analyse them, and then refer to original Armenian manuscripts to trace and study the historical counterparts of the reproduced inks. This interdisciplinary and multi-analytical approach is directed towards the preservation and accurate interpretation of these delicate colours in the Armenian manuscript tradition. Additionally, it contributes to enriching the global written heritage with unique Armenian perspectives and insights.