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Mysteries of vernacular: Miniature - Jessica Oreck

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TEDEd Animation

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Miniature’s root may be Latin, but its meaning is rooted in books, where red pigment was used to denote chapter breaks. Jessica Oreck explains how we got from there to the meaning of miniature today: something smaller than others of its class.

What was the purpose of the large, ornate, and colorful capital letters used in books during medieval times?

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Meet The Creators

  • Director Jessica Oreck

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