iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Comics theory, medieval art, Celtic coins and contemporary stained glass come together in a single talk next week.

Poster announcing a talk by Jesse Hurlbut on October 23, 2025 at the Fulton Library at UVU at 1 PM. The title of the talk is "Comic Book Literacy for Monumental Art."

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Big flourish for a small capital British Library Add ms 15603, f.55v. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A capital C (one-line height) in brown ink with an elaborate red pen flourish (extending over 11 lines in height)

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Two "terrobolem" stones, male and female, when brought close together, spontaneously ignite and create a raging fire. Bestiary British Library, Add ms 11283, f.41r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Pinpricks allow the transfer of a drawing from one sheet of vellum to another. Bestiary British Library, Add ms 11283, f.6r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A line drawing of a deer. Pinpricks in the vellum trace the outline. Additional pinpricks are visible corresponding to another drawing on the verso.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Temptation The ‘Moutier-Grandval Bible’ British Library, Add MS 10546, f. 5v. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A serpent wrapped around the trunk of a fruit-bearing tree offers a piece of round fruit in its mouth. A hand reaches into the frame to take the fruit.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Canon Table Arcade The ‘Moutier-Grandval Bible’ British Library, Add MS 10546, f. 351r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A series of colorful arches spanning between columns adorn the canon tables of a nineth-century Bible.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Hare Line Filler The ‘Moutier-Grandval Bible’ British Library, Add MS 10546, f. 7r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

The blank space at the end of a verse is filled with the silhouette of a running hare.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Spring Blossoms Majmu’a / مجموعه British Library, Add ms 7914, f. 70r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Shepherds abiding in the field British Library, Arundel ms 157, f.3v. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Crossing Borders [Muntakhab-i] Dīvān-i Navā’ī / منتخب ديوان نوائي British Library, Or 3493, f. 3r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Orion's Belt Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent, HS. 92, fol. 90v.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Cursus Solis Solsticialis How does this work again? Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent Liber Floridus, HS. 92, fol. 25r.

A 12th-century diagram illustrating the movement of the Sun from solstice to equinox with a series of orbs arrayed within a set of concentric circles.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Verba is the Word I'm not sure what astonishes me more, the color palette, the unusual blend of motifs, or perhaps the casual stylistic insouciance in the midst of rigorous structure and symmetry? Montpellier Bible British Library, Harley ms 4772, f.209v. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

The beginning of the book of Jeremiah. The word 'Verba' is ornately decorated.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Refined Lines This manuscript has many extremely large capitals richly decorated with blue and red line art, but I find the smaller inter-columnar ones like this one just as arresting! Lancelot du Lac British Library, Harley ms 4419, f.30r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

St. Denys from the nicely illustrated "Vie de saint Denys et ses compaignons." British Library, Harley ms 4409, f.10r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

St. Denys gazes over an elaborate diapered background.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

May I Have Your Undivided Attention? British Library, Harley ms 4372, f.140r @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A group of men with hands clasped, kneel and gaze intently upward.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Bearded Scribe with Knot British Library, Cotton MS Claudius A III, f.30r. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

Just Around the Corner Lindisfarne Gospels British Library, Cotton MS Nero D IV, fols. 3r, 5v, 6r, 6v. @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Amazing! Graduale van de Sint-Baafsabdij te Gent, HS 14, fol. 40r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

The Latin word "Mirabilis" with an ornate capital M and accompanying musical notation.

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Reposted by Jesse Hurlbut

Steven Van Impe @svanimpe.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Found one! Apparently regularly occurs in French publications, esp. by Estienne. In this case, Juris orientalis libri III (1573), digitized: books.google.be/books?id=m4x...

Digitized page of an early printed book in latin; below the text block is the quire signature, 'lz.i.' with 'lz' instead of the letter 'k'.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Le Corbeau et le Renard BnF. Département des Manuscrits. Smith-Lesouëf 68, 32v. @labnf.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Curlicue Border Universiteitsbibliotheek Gent, Graduale van de Sint-Baafsabdij te Gent, BHSL.HS.0014, ff. 79v-80r.

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Reposted by Jesse Hurlbut

Catriona Seth @catrionaseth.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Ever wondered what Joan of Arc(Jeanne d'Arc)'s signature looked like? Here you are, courtesy of @britishlibrary.bsky.social, a document which has left the #Riom archives for the first time ever as part of the excellent Medieval Women exhibition.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

"The Fool has said in his heart..." This Psalm is often historiated with a depiction of a Fool, but in this case, we see the Temptation of Christ, ergo Satan is the Fool. British Library, Arundel ms 157, f.52r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p... @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Do the Double Dragon Dance British Library, Arundel ms 157, f.19r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p... @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Still trying to figure out where to start my Advent calendar (or is this a crossword puzzle?) British Library, Sloane ms 263, f.36r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p... @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Post the LAST SENTENCE of your last article/chapter. As comics scholars have taught, narrative objects such as the manuscripts described here combine the [] toolsets of words and the [] conventions of images to generate a product and an experience that is richer than any of its composing elements.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Simply Elegant British Library, Royal ms 7 f vi, fol. 133v. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p... @britishlibrary.bsky.social

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

"Le cueur qui souloit estre mien qui sera sien" British Library, Royal MS 20 a xvi, f.3v. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p... @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A man holds his heart as he sings to his lover, "The heart which used to be mine, will be hers." There is a castle on the distant horizon.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

In the 13th c., Gossuin (Gautier) de Metz explained that if you dig a hole through the center of the Earth, then drop a rock into the hole, it would fall towards the center. British Library, Royal ms 19 a ix, f.44r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p... @britishlibrary.bsky.social

A cross-section of the Earth with two tunnels that reach (1) from North to South and (2) from East to West. Rocks dropped in any opening of the tunnels will move toward the center of the Earth.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

I was today years old when I learned that the opposite of "Nevertheless" is "Neverthemore" as evidenced in this Middle French example "Néantplus" (vs. Néantmoins). British Library, Royal ms 19 a ix, f.44v.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 30/11/2024

Moses and the Serpents British Library, Royal ms 13 d vi, f.61v. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

He wanted me to pass this along British Library, Lansdowne ms 420, f.78r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

Marginal line drawing depicting a man being eaten by a large dog with razor-sharp teeth. The man holds a decorative object in one hand and points downward with the other.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Oh, You Mean This S? British Library, Lansdowne ms 420, f.20v. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

Capital S in gold leaf inhabited by a person standing behind the capital with an index finger extended.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

The Goose isn't Ready Yet The British Library, Stowe ms 3, f.5v. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

Corner of an unfinished 10th-century canon table featuring the underdrawing of a goose perched on a floral decoration.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob The British Library, Royal ms 7 d ii, f.3r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Oxidized ink, said Ambrosius British Library, Royal MS 7 C IV, f.5r jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Plus Est En Vous Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits. Néerlandais 1, fol. 58v. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p=1

Marginal art including a snail, a cannon and a banderole

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Les Trois Déesses d’Enfer Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits. Français 12476, fol. 18r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

The winged personification of Fame flies into the scene and introduces the three goddesses of Hell, each of whom is entwined with fire-breathing snakes, to Malebouche and Franc Vouloir.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Lean to the left! Lean to the right! ... Histoire romaine, en latin, depuis la fondation de Rome jusqu’au règne de Constantin le Grand Source: Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Ms-667 réserve, fol. 118r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Any Way You Look At It … Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits. Latin 919, fol. 18r. jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

Ornate capital letter D inhabited by three interlocking bearded heads.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

Synagogia It's a good thing her blindfold is so sheer--that way, we can be certain she's closing her eyes. Missal ('The Sherborne Missal') British Library, Add MS 74236, p. 30 iiif.bl.uk/uv/#?manifes...

Synagogia, blindfolded, wears a richly brocaded gown of goldcloth and a flowing ermine-lined blue cape. She holds a broken staff in her left hand while letting broken tablets of the Law fall from her right hand. A luxurious crown topples from her head.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Keeping an eye on things. British Library, Arundel ms 157, fol. 2r. 13th Century bl.digirati.io/images/ark:/...

Close up of a face showing only the two eyes and the bridge of the nose.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Cosmos, 15th century. Bibliothèque Nationale de France, BNF Fr 143, fol. 17r gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12... jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

The Cosmos represented as 11 concentric circles surrounding the Earth, which is populated with cathedrals and churches. The outer circle includes symbols of the Zodiac. The golden background is highlighted with radiating lines of gold.

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Jesse Hurlbut @jessehurlbut.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Historiated Capital with Tower of Babel in grisaille with rust-colored highlights. Bibliothèque de l’Arsenal, Ms 5212 réserve, fol. 20v. gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12... jessehurlbut.net/wp/mssart/?p...

A 14th-century capital letter D inhabited by construction workers in the process of building the Tower of Babel. Delicate single-vine leafy ornaments extend from the D into the left margin both above and below the enlarged capital. Three bearded figures are incorporated into the body of the D.

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