Fine Artist / Illustrator for Antique Manuscript

The client is an emerging Australian antiquarian print studio creating one-of-a-kind works on authentic antique manuscript leaves, letters and archival papers. We are seeking a skilled fine artist or illustrator to produce hand-painted, engraving-inspired compositions directly onto original historical paper. The source material includes nineteenth- and early twentieth-century study notebooks, theological manuscripts, wartime correspondence and European notarial documents. The finished works will combine authentic handwriting and archival character with carefully integrated imagery drawn from historical visual traditions. This is not a conventional illustration on blank paper: the artist must respond to the existing handwriting, stains, folds, signatures, seals and margins of every individual leaf. The project is inspired by Italian ateliers that transform historic manuscript pages through hand-applied imagery, while developing an original visual identity for the brand. We are looking for work influenced by: Renaissance and early modern engravings Copperplate and etching-style linework Cross-hatching and stippling Antique natural-history illustration Classical, theological and scientific imagery Sicilian Renaissance and Baroque ornament Modern luxury editorial composition The result should feel historical but contemporary, refined but visually arresting. It should not resemble digital clip art, generic vintage collage, or a reproduction simply pasted over old paper. Final artwork must be physically made by hand. Any digital preparation, tracing method or transfer process must be disclosed and approved before production. We want the image to interact with the manuscript rather than completely obscure it. The artworks will be developed across the following collections: Mythological — gods, heroes, monsters and classical mythology Natural Sciences — flora, fauna, shells and natural history Religious — biblical, sacred and theological imagery Astronomical — stars, constellations and celestial diagrams Imperial — rulers, politics, heraldry, power and empire Numismatic — coins, medals and monetary imagery Anatomical — anatomy, skeletons and the human form Architectural — temples, churches, monuments and ruins Cartographic — maps, globes, navigation and geography Ornamental — grotesques, arabesques, foliage and decorative forms The commission will begin with a small paid trial of three to five manuscript leaves. Successful completion of the trial may lead to ongoing batches and a substantial long-term body of work. Strong compositions may: 1. Emerge from gaps in the handwriting; 2. Follow the movement of existing lines; 3. Frame seals or signatures; 4. Incorporate natural stains and folds; 5. Leave areas of the original leaf untouched; 6. Create tension between historical text and contemporary intervention. The handwriting and age of the page must remain integral to the finished artwork. The finished works will be sold as original artworks through the brand. The artist will be credited in accordance with the final written agreement. No artwork will be falsely described as a historical engraving; each piece will be presented as a contemporary, hand-created intervention on an authentic antique manuscript leaf. Initial trial: paid commission for three to five leaves. Please quote: 1. Your rate per completed leaf; 2. Any separate concept or sketch fee; 3. Your estimated time per work; 4. Postage or collection requirements; 5. Your preferred rate for ongoing batches. We are open to either a fixed per-piece rate or a negotiated structure combining an upfront artist fee with a payment linked to the sale of each finished work. Please note that we are a start-up in the artistic space, and while we wish we could pay our artists as much as possible, we do our best to negotiate fair rates. Though continuity with us will be rewarded as the brand grows, and opportunities for full-time employment are realistic once the brand establishes itself. The ideal applicant will have experience in one or more of the following: 1. Pen-and-ink illustration; 2. Engraving or etching-inspired linework; 3. Botanical, anatomical or classical illustration; 4. Traditional decorative art; 5. Working on handmade, vintage or unconventional paper; 6. Producing cohesive commercial art collections. Artists based in Australia are preferred because original historical material must be transported securely, although exceptional international applicants may still be considered. Please include: 1. A link to your portfolio; 2. Examples of detailed linework or work on paper; 3. Your proposed medium and technique; 4. Your location; 5. Your per-leaf price or indicative project rate; 6. Estimated turnaround for five works; 7. Whether you are available for ongoing commissions; 8. A brief explanation of how you would approach imagery on an existing handwritten page.