He’s been happily exploring how to bring all of these into his Living History profession. It makes for a variety of options, all of which he keeps expanding with avid learning.


I asked Andy more about some of the specific techniques he’s been studying. Here is his explanation on “silver point” or “metal point” drawing:


“Silverpoint is the techinique used during the Medieval period, where you fashion a stylus made of silver and draw on a prepared surface, ether wood or paper. (I ought to mention this is pure silver, not sterling, et cetera.)


Metalpoint is a general term, as silver and other metals were used. So silverpoint is categorized with metalpoint, but is really the same thing. Generally speaking, silver was the preferred metal, the most common in the late Medieval period. Silverpoint was certainly in use by the 1430’s, as it is mentioned directly in Cennino D’Andrea Ceninni “Il Libro Dell’Arte” (Craftman’s Handbook) where he gives instruction on how to use it.


www.artizenmagazine.com 22


Silver very likely pre-dates I’m still researching that.


Other metals used were Go and Lead. Lead tended to b out guidelines when writing illuminations.


According to Cennini, you on the wood panel, which h Gesso (being made of grou marble powder (calcium bic liquified hide glue and brus or paper). Y


ou have to prepa


metalpoint, as you need som to pull the metal off the sty same principal of pencil on are rough enough to pull of off the pencil.


Y ou make your preparatory


first, and then you “fix” the [stylus] - The metal will no cannot be erased (quick not exist for a few more centuri


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