The Resurgence of
Apprenticeship
In East Hampton, New York, Ellen Frank is reviving a
practice the world hasn’t seen since the Renaissance. In her
small studio, she is teaching a handful of interns the art of
illumination, a technique that involves using gold to
embellish sacred documents. The studio is called the
Illumination Atelier and is a haven for live-in artists who
want to work under the guidance of a true master.
Atelier is a French word meaning “workshop,” and
during the Middle Ages these were the main areas of
education for artists. In such a workshop, the master artist,
often accompanied by assistants and apprentices, would
create works that would go out in the master’s name. It was
a collaborative effort, which allowed the artist to produce
more work and provide a learning experience for the
fledgling artists.
Ateliers often worked in collaboration with local guilds,
which controlled the apprenticeship process, and although
they still exist in a few places around the world today, their
popularity has dramatically declined. To Ellen Frank, this is
a tragedy. Her small workshop is an opportunity to share her
passion for not only art but also peace and reconciliation.
After a trip to Jerusalem in 1999, where she experienced
a land in turmoil, Ellen was inspired to create a large-scale