Although the title "minor art" might seem to demean a work, some of the most extravagant (and expensive) pieces fall under this category. Also known as "luxury arts," jewelry, carved ivory, gold and silver vessels, and illuminated manuscripts were popular items of the Late Antiquity period (partially because artists tried to steer clear from idolatry).
The name "illuminated manuscripts" came from the Latin word illuminare which means "to adorn, ornament, or brighten." These books were made of costly, durable materials (i.e., calfskin and lambskin) and required a lot of labor. To create an illuminated manuscript, the paper first had to be cured, cut, and dyed. Lines would then be drawn to set up areas for the scribe to write and to set aside areas for illustrations and "illuminations." Buckles, covers, and clasps would be added to finish off the book and make it a work of art.
The Vatican Vergil is the oldest existing painted manuscript, dated to about 400 CE. Its artwork represented Roman iconography after the time of pagan cults. Despite being a part of such an expensively embellished text, this particular painting from the Vatican Vergil (form the Georgics text) illustrates the farming class of the Roman Empire (even though its style is similar to Pompeian murals). The farmer on the far left is speaking to the others about the "pleasures of the simple life" that farming brings. Ragged togas and a modest house in the background attest to the simplicity of a farmer's life.
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