Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a manuscript and a folio?

On this site, a manuscript refers to a handwritten book in its entirety, including its binding and all pages contained within.

A folio refers to a page within a manuscript. An illuminated folio is a page that is colorfully painted and enhanced with gold, often containing an illustration.

Can I search for a single folio as well as a full manuscript?

It is possible to search for both manuscripts and illuminated folios. Simply check or uncheck the boxes at the bottom of the search menu that read "Search Manuscripts" and "Search Illuminated Folios."

Why do some manuscripts within the page-turning view read right to left, while others read left to right?

Some writing, such as Arabic, reads from left to right while others, like Latin, read from right to left.

Why is a sliver of the opposing page visible in each photo?

A sliver of the opposing folio has been retained in each image to assure the viewer that the entire page was captured.

Can a manuscript be searched by its shelf mark?

Yes. Specific shelf marks may be entered into the text search box with no spaces.

Examples: W.4, W.21, W.102, 92.808

Please note that not all manuscripts in the collection have been digitized yet. A complete list of all digitized manuscripts is available at The Digital Walters(thedigitalwalters.org). Illuminated folios and full PDFs are also available on the Walters Art Museum's Works of Art site.

Are high-resolution versions of the images available for download?

Yes. Click on the cog symbol at the top right of the page-turning window to choose from four different image sizes: a full-resolution master TIFF, a 300 PPI TIFF, a Standard All-Purpose (SAP) JPEG, and a thumbnail. Images are also available on the Digital Walters(thedigitalwalters.org).

Is there a fee to download and use these images?

No. All Walters Art Museum manuscript images are available for free and for any use under a Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal license.

Can these images be cropped or otherwise altered?

Yes. Once images have been downloaded, they may be altered as needed. Permission from the Walters Art Museum is not needed prior to making these alterations.

Is there a proper citation that should be used when publishing these images?

Please follow the citation guidelines laid out on the Digital Walters.

Does the Walters need to be informed of instances in which these images are published or otherwise used?

While it is not a requirement for use, the museum asks that an email be sent to mss-curator@thewalters.org with a brief summary of the project in which the images were used, along with any relevant links or publication information.

Has the collection been fully digitized?

Digitization is an ongoing process. The Walters has digitized over half of its manuscripts and looks forward to continuing this work. Some codices are unable to be imaged due to extreme fragility, inordinately large or small sizes, or a combination of both.