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This 12th-century manuscript has instructions on various arts and crafts. The section De imponendo auro has advice on illuminating manuscripts with loose gold leaf (BL, Harley MS 3915, fol. 12r-v) bl.uk/manuscripts/Vi… … #illuminatedmanuscripts #medievaltwitter #artsandcrafts 
It’s from Theophilus’s De diversis artibus, compiled c.1125. This is before gesso was being used, as it instructs to take the clear part of the beaten egg white, and paint it on to the manuscript where the gold is to be applied
The best bit is this:
et hora oportet te a vento cavere, et ab halitu continere, quia si flaveris, petulam perdes et difficile reperies -
et hora oportet te a vento cavere, et ab halitu continere, quia si flaveris, petulam perdes et difficile reperies -
which means -
and then you must beware of the wind, and hold in your breath, because if you blow you will lose the leaf and recover it with difficulty
and then you must beware of the wind, and hold in your breath, because if you blow you will lose the leaf and recover it with difficulty
Anyone who has used loose gold leaf will identify with this. It is VERY fiddly
But you do end up with beautiful illuminated images like this (BL, MS Harley 105, fol. 205r) bl.uk/catalogues/ill…
And I know there aren’t any cats in this, so here’s a gif of a fake cat with what *could be* some gold leaf #medievalcrafts #catsoftwitter
