• Cennino A. Cennini / Paperback / Published 1978
  
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• This is an amazingly old book, translated from Italian several times in the past 200 years, and originally thought to have been written in about the 15th century A.D. The book tells you much of the techniques and concerns of commercial painters of the day, all the way down to how to paint particular folds in fabric, veils, and garments, as well as how to prepare and use the materials of the day. Beyond being an interesting insight into painting methods of the day (and an amusing read...Cennino was quite a firm believer that his way was the only way in which to do something, and had no qualms about telling you as much) it also has a lot of valuable information for the traditionalist. One of my three "Big Books" of medieval techniques, all written or translated by Daniel Thompson, that I like to recommend to folks. (-Cari)

• Daniel V. Thompson / Paperback / Published 1957
  
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• Book #2 for must haves, if you are interested in authentic medieval techniques of art and illumination. This particular book gives an in depth study of the pigments and materials available in those days, and as well where they were obtained, how to prepare them, and ways they were used. It also goes into methods about painting traditional frescos, gilding, and preparing your own gesso. This is good companion book to Cennino's book, as this tells more of the how and why of what Cennino did, while Cennino does not go into that as much. I think having both of these gives a well rounded source of information, and personally I wouldn't get one without the other. The background in this book helps to make sense out of some of Cennino's ideas and methods. (-Cari)

• Daniel V. Thompson / Paperback / Published 1936
  
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• This is the third book that I've enjoyed for historical information, although this one focuses only on the making of and painting with egg tempera. Over 3000 years old, the practice of painting with egg tempera had survived from Egyptian times, if not earlier, and was used for many of the panel works in the medieval ages. This book takes a more modern view as far as methods go (as much as you can for a book published in 1936), so has some conventions in it that makes the whole egg tempera process reasonably accessible to the beginner as well. I'd include this in your short list for medieval studies, but only if you've got a hankering for the egg tempera side, as that's pretty much all it deals with. (-Cari)

  I also have an info page made now about Gilding using gold leaf and imitation leafs. This is a quick overview that some may find helpful, based on my technique. :-)