Master Class “Initial” to Take Place at Bauska Castle Museum

On 29 January 2022 at 12:00 p.m., at Bauska Castle Museum, artist Laura Matilde Ikerte will lead the “Initial” master class, during which participants will have the opportunity to learn how to prepare and use egg tempera paint. Everyone—whether or not they have any prior knowledge—will be able to create their own initial based on examples from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

In medieval manuscripts, initials are the first letters of the text, multicoloured, specially highlighted and enlarged, and embellished with various ornaments, flourishes, and depictions of people and animals. Initials adorned the beginnings of book chapters, and their motifs most often revealed the content of the following text. Multicoloured initials were used until the mid-16th century, when book printing became widespread. Decorated, calligraphic initials continued to be used thereafter as well.

Egg tempera is durable and dries relatively quickly. It is made from natural colour pigments and a water-soluble binding substance, such as egg yolk. Egg tempera pigments were already used in ancient Egypt. This paint was also frequently used in the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance.

The number of places is limited; booking a visit in advance is recommended by calling 63923793 or 63922280, by mobile phone at 20011880, or by    email: bauskaspils@bauska.lv. During the event, a medical face mask or FFP2 respirator must be worn (this does not apply to children under 7 years of age), and the epidemiological regulations in force in the country aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19 must be observed.

The master class is held as part of the project “The Historic Road: Raudondvaris–Bauska”. The main objective of the project is to increase the number of visitors to Bauska Castle Museum and Raudondvaris Manor (Lithuania) during the tourism off-season and the winter months. Ten master classes will be held at Bauska Castle Museum during the winter and autumn months of 2022: making a leather pouch, creating plant wreaths, calligraphy, the sgraffito technique, and making pewter jewellery.°

The project is implemented within the framework of the INTERREG V–A Latvia–Lithuania Cross-Border Cooperation  Programme. Project No. LLI-498 “The Historic Road: Raudondvaris–Bauska”, HRRB. Information about the Interreg V-A Latvia–Lithuania Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2014–2020  www.latlit.eu; official website of the European Union www.europa.eu   

The total project funding for Raudondvaris Manor and Bauska Castle Museum is EUR 785 875.00, including ERDF funding of 85%—EUR 667 993.75.

Project funding for Bauska Municipality: EUR 384 500.00, including ERDF funding of EUR 326 825, national budget co-financing of EUR 19 225, and municipal co-financing of EUR 38 450. The project duration is 24 months (01.01.2021–31.12.2022).

This article has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Bauska Castle Museum bears sole responsibility for the content of this article, which under no circumstances may be considered to represent the official position of the European Union.

Prepared by:

Head of Public Relations and Customer Service at Bauska Castle Museum