Scriptoria, on the path of manuscripts in Normandy.

Manuscripts from the abbeys of St-Évroult-d’Ouche and St-Martin-de-Sées

The exhibition highlights the activities of Norman scriptoria in the 11th and 12th centuries, during the time of William the Conqueror.

The writing workshops of the Abbey of Saint-Évroult-d’Ouche and the Abbey of Saint-Martin-de-Sées are among the major centers of manuscript production during this period.

The Aveline Media Library of Alençon holds several manuscripts from these two sites.

In an exceptional way, around twenty manuscripts from the collections of the media library and the diocesan archives of Séez are presented together.

The exhibition reveals the richness of their illuminations: decorated letters, colored initials, and decorations with harmonious and symbolic motifs.

The presentation also offers a discovery of bookmaking in the Middle Ages: materials, writings, and illumination techniques, while questioning the motivations of the monastic scribes and the circulation of influences between writing workshops, beyond Normandy, particularly with England.

As part of "Scriptoria, on the road of manuscripts from Normandy", a multi-site exhibition to be found in Rouen (Heritage Library, March-June 2027), Alençon (Media Library and Museum, April-September 2027), Évreux (Media Library, May-September 2027), Avranches (Scriptorial, June-September 2027), Sées (Museum, July-September 2027), and Le Havre (Heritage Library, September-December 2027).

Partnerships: Normandy Livre et lecture, BnF, Diocesan Archives of Séez, Departmental Archives of Calvados, Departmental Archives of Orne, Media Library of Lisieux, in connection with the British Library.

Cooperation France / United Kingdom