Illuminated Manuscripts

Richly illustrated pages from medieval manuscripts, featuring biblical scenes, initial letters, and decorative borders in vibrant colors.

Pentecost; Workshop of the Bedford Master (French, active first half of 15th century); Paris, France; about 1440 - 1450; Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 23.5 x 16.4 cm (9 1,4 x 6 7,16 in.)
Pentecost; Workshop of the Bedford Master (French, active first half of 15th century); Paris, France; about 1440 - 1450; Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 23.5 x 16.4 cm (9 1,4 x 6 7,16 in.)
261 assets in this story
4409-17493269
A Man Mowing; Zodiacal Sign of Cancer. Date/Period: Early 1460s. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment. Height: 256 mm (10.07 in); Width: 173 mm (6.81 in). Author: Workshop of Willem Vrelant.
4443-21196242
Saint Jerome Reading; Workshop of Master of the First Prayer Book of Maximilian, Flemish, active about 1475 - 1515; Bruges, Belgium, Europe; about 1510 - 1520; Tempera colors, gold, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 23.2 x 16.7 cm (9 1/8 x 6 9/16 in.), Justification: 10.9 x 7.4 cm (4 5/16 x 2 15/16 in.)
6145-30167851
Illustration from Sextus decretalium liber by Bonifce VIII, plate 84 from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century 1514 Italy. Woodcut on paper . Unknown artist
6145-30192822
Illustration from Les Eneydes de Virgille, plate 67 from Woodcuts from Books of the XVI Century 1540 France. Woodcut on paper . Unknown artist
6145-29072736
Hours of Queen Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Spain: Fol. 9v, August, c. 1500. Master of the First Prayerbook of Maximillian (Flemish, c. 1444-1519), and Associates. Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum; codex: 22.5 x 15.2 cm (8 7/8 x 6 in.).
4042-17366229
A Pastoral Landscape with Shepherds Playing a Viola and Panpipes, Albrecht Durer, 1496-1497, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA, North America
4435-10088
PELAYO ( -737). First King of Asturias (718-737). On the right, portraits of his wife Gaudiosa and daughter Hermesinda. GenealogÕa de los Reyes de EspaÐa. 1463. Gothic art. Miniature Painting. SPAIN. MADRID (AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY). Madrid. National Library.
6145-55938295
fol. 93r. 1390. Manuscripts, Illuminations. Spencer Collection
1443-1287
The People of the Kingdom Erginul: Akephalos, skiapod and a one eyed giant, From Le Livre des Merveilles les du Monde, (The Travels of Marco Polo), Studio of the Boucicaut Master, c.1412, Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France
1060-675
Canterbury Tales: The Reeve's Tale (Ellesmere Chaucer), ca. 1400, Artist Unknown, Illuminated manuscript, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, San Marino, California, USA
6145-48890938
Leaf from a Book of Hours. Master of Morgan 366 (French, active 1470s)
4443-21947925
A Deer Wounded by a Spring Trap; Brittany, France; about 1430 - 1440; Tempera colors, gold paint, silver paint, and gold leaf on parchment; Leaf: 26.4 x 18.4 cm (10 3,8 x 7 1,4 in.)
6145-44204150
Leaning
6145-29121403
Jeremiah Lifted off the Cistern. Jost Amman (Switzerland, Zurich, active Germany, 1539-1591). Germany, 16th century. Prints; woodcuts. Hand-colored woodcut
6145-51830291
Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis, late 15th century. Manuscript in opaque watercolor and ink with gold, 6 × 4 1/2 × 1 1/2 in. (15.2 × 11.4 × 3.8 cm). European Art late 15th century
4443-22028987
Theatrvm orbis terrarvm, Theatrvm orbis terrarvm, Ortelius, Abraham, 1527-1598, 1573
6145-48893542
Des cas des nobles hommes et femmes.
6145-29071656
Hours of Queen Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Spain: Fol. 182r, c. 1500. Master of the First Prayerbook of Maximillian (Flemish, c. 1444-1519), and Associates. Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum; codex: 22.5 x 15.2 cm (8 7/8 x 6 in.).
1746-19629610
Henry VII (1457-1509) first Tudor king of England from 1485. His first act of parliament with initial portrait of king. Border illuminated with flora and fauna. Thomas Pigot's 'Book of Statutes'.
6145-48885715
The Descent into Limbo. Unknown
4409-17561487
Life of Saint Pirminius from Heiligenleben, Winterteil (Lives of the Saints, Wintertime), Plate 1 from Woodcuts from Books of the 15th Century. Unknown Artist (Augsburg, 15th century); printed and published by Günther Zainer (German, active 1468-1478); original text by Jacobus de Voragine (Italian, c. 1230-1298); portfolio text by Wilhelm Ludwig Schreiber (German, 1855-1932). Date: 1471. Dimensions: 73 x 73 mm (image); 364 x 265 mm (sheet). Woodcut in black with hand-colored additions, and letterpress in black with rubrication (recto and verso), on cream laid paper, tipped onto cream wove paper mat. Origin: Germany. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.
6145-58840328
Display of De Vreingbloem (Bergen op Zoom), 1561, 1561 - 1562 Scene from the play of De Vreingbloem, Rederijkerskamer van Bergen op Zoom. On stage: Apollo, day, night and rhetoric. For the land jewel of Antwerp in 1561. Antwerp paper Antwerp Scene from the play of De Vreingbloem, Rederijkerskamer van Bergen op Zoom. On stage: Apollo, day, night and rhetoric. For the land jewel of Antwerp in 1561. Antwerp paper Antwerp
4409-54271
HISTORIA MEDIEVAL. CABALLEROS CRUZADOS EMBARCANDO HACIA TIERRA SANTA. Página miniada de los estatutos de la Orden del Santo Espíritu (s. XV). Biblioteca Nacional. París. Francia.
4443-22000924
Treading Grapes; Zodiacal Sign of Scorpio; Strasbourg, France; early 16th century; Tempera colors on parchment; Leaf: 13.5 x 10.5 cm (5 5,16 x 4 1,8 in.)
4443-75461243
The artwork features two scenes one depicting a doctor and his patient, and the other showing a bird catcher and a viper. The piece was created around 1480 in Florence
4409-17510261
Equestrian Combat with Sword and Unarmed Equestrian Combat. Date/Period: Ca. 1410. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, silver leaf, and ink on parchment. Height: 279 mm (10.98 in); Width: 206 mm (8.11 in). Author: Fiore Furlan dei Liberi da Premariacco.
6145-52844405
Depicts Saint Elenus confronting a monster, created as a colored woodcut by Peter Berger in 1488, showing figures, action, and symbolic elements.
4435-4430
ADELAIDA DE SABOYA, Maestro de(15th c.). The Hours of Adelaide of Savoy, Duchess of Burgundy. 1460-1465. The Month of May. Dances and games. Gothic art. Miniature Painting. FRANCE. PICARDY. OISE. Chantilly. Mus_e Cond_ (Cond_ Museum).
6145-29086429
Valerius Maximus's Facta et dicta memorabilia: Opening Page of Book VIII of Valerius Maximus's Facta et dicta memorabilia, c. 1476. Flanders, 15th century. Pen and brown ink, watercolor, and gouache; framing lines in brown ink (around image), with letterpress text; sheet: 38.4 x 28.2 cm (15 1/8 x 11 1/8 in.).
4443-75469248
Anthropomorphic (angel) and zoomorphic (snake) initial., 1590 - 1625., Wallachia, Romania. Snakes
4443-21953330
The Trinity; Ghent, Belgium; about 1475; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and gold paint on parchment; Leaf: 43.8 x 30.5 cm (17 1,4 x 12 in.)
6145-48890021
Inhabited Initial E. Unknown
6145-44215208
The chronicle of the bishops pad Verdensi
4409-17583956
Saint Policarpus from Lives of the Heiligenleben, Sommerteil (Saints, Summertime), Plate 2 from Woodcuts from Books of the 15th Century. Unknown Artist (Augsburg, 15th century); printed and published by Johannes (Hans) Baemler (German, 1435-1504); original text by Jacobus de Voragine (Italian, c. 1230-1298); portfolio text by Wilhelm Ludwig Schreiber (German, 1855-1932). Date: 1475. Dimensions: 70 x 80 mm (image); 270 x 186 mm (sheet). Woodcut in black with hand-colored additions, and letterpress in black (recto and verso), on cream laid paper. Origin: Germany. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.
6145-48886730
The Creation of Plants. Unknown
6145-51830540
Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis Flemish. Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis, ca. 1510-1530. Manuscript with opaque watercolor and ink with gold, 6 3/8 × 4 7/8 × 1 5/8 in. (16.2 × 12.4 × 4.1 cm). European Art ca. 1510-1530
6145-51830552
Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis Unknown. Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis, ca. 1425-1460. Manuscript in opaque watercolor and ink with gold, book: 8 × 5 3/4 × 2 3/8 in. (20.3 × 14.6 cm). European Art ca. 1425-1460
4443-19605414
Songs of Innocence and of Experience, Plate 4, 'Introduction' (Bentley 4), Print made by William Blake, 1757-1827, British, 1789 to 1794, Relief etching printed in dark-brown with pen and black ink and watercolor on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream wove paper, Sheet: 7 1/8 x 5 inches (18.1 x 12.7 cm), Plate: 4 3/4 x 3 1/8 inches (12.1 x 7.9 cm), and Spine: 7 3/8 inches (18.7 cm), branches, leaf, literary theme, text, trees, vignettes, vines
1890-11150517
Dome fresco by Johann Michael Rottmayr, Karlskirche (St. Charles's Church), Vienna, Austria, Europe
4409-17370902
Manuscript Illumination with All Saints in an Initial V, from an Antiphonary. Artist: Attributed to Cosmè Tura (Cosimo di Domenico di Bonaventura) (Italian, Ferrara ca. 1433-1495 Ferrara). Culture: Italian. Dimensions: Overall: 14 1/2 x 12 1/8 in. (36.8 x 30.8 cm)Illumination: 7 3/8 x 6 5/16 in. (18.7 x 16 cm)Mat Size: 22 x 16 in. (55.9 x 40.6 cm). Date: 1450-60. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
4443-22003914
Decorated Initial V; Northern Italy, Italy; about 1460 - 1480; Tempera colors and gold leaf on parchment; Leaf: 60.3 x 44 cm (23 3,4 x 17 5,16 in.)
6145-55939496
fol. 249v. 1402. Rudolf, von Ems, -approximately 1254. text. Spencer Collection
6145-54592005
This colored woodcut from around 1490-1500 depicts a childs bed with a maid attending to the child. The image emphasizes domestic life and interior details typical of late 15th-century European woodcuts.
4443-21954787
A Fisherman on the Back of a Whale; Thérouanne , France (formerly Flanders); fourth quarter of 13th century (after 1277); Tempera colors, pen and ink, gold leaf, and gold paint on parchment; Leaf: 23.3 x 16.4 cm (9 3,16 x 6 7,16 in.)
4443-22005343
Constellation; Worcester, England; late 14th century, shortly after 1386; Pen and black ink and tempera on parchment bound between pasteboard covered with black morocco; Leaf: 21.3 x 15.2 cm (8 3,8 x 6 in.)
6145-59196603
Tuscany Siena Montalcino Museo Civico16. Hutzel, Max 1960-1990 Medieval: Entire manuscript. Manuscripts. Post-medieval: Sculpture and ceramics from local workshops (2nd half 12th century; Sienese maiolica; 14th century weapons German-born photographer and scholar Max Hutzel (1911-1988) photographed in Italy from the early 1960s until his death. The result of this project, referred to by Hutzel as Foto Arte Minore, is thorough documentation of art historical development in Italy up to the 18th century, including objects of the Etruscans and the Romans, as well as early Medieval, Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque monuments. Images are organized by geographic region in Italy, then by province, city, site complex and monument.
4443-22005880
Combat with Sword; Fiore Furlan dei Liberi da Premariacco (Italian, about 1340,1350 - before 1450); Padua (or), Italy; about 1410; Tempera colors, gold leaf, silver leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 27.9 x 20.6 cm (11 x 8 1,8 in.)
6145-52373213
The fisherman cont.; The monkey and the dolphin.. 1480. Aesop. Manuscripts, Illuminations, Miniatures (illuminations). Spencer Collection
4266-21655
The Psychomachia by Prudentius by Anonymous master / Parker Library, Corpus Christi College/ 11th century/ Watercolour on parchment/ Medieval art/ Mythology, Allegory and Literature
1899-18788116
Commentary on the Apocalypse (Commentaria In Apocalypsin) was originally an eighth century work by the Spanish monk and theologian Beatus of Liebana. Today, it refers to any of the extant manuscript copies of this work, especially any of the 26 illuminated copies that have survived. It is often referred to simply as the Beatus. The historical significance of the Commentary is made even more pronounced since it included a world map, which offers a rare insight into the geographical understanding of the post-Roman world. Well-known copies include the Morgan, the Saint-Sever, the Gerona, the Osma and the Madrid (Vitr 14-1) Beatus codices. Considered together, the Beatus codices are among the most important Spanish medieval manuscripts and have been the subject of extensive scholarly and antiquarian enquiry.
6145-29072762
Hours of Queen Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Spain: Fol. 45v, c. 1500. Master of the First Prayerbook of Maximillian (Flemish, c. 1444-1519), and Associates. Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum; codex: 22.5 x 15.2 cm (8 7/8 x 6 in.).
6145-48890096
Gradual. Antonio da Monza (Italian, active about 1480 - 1505)
1746-28969964
1477 edition of the Grandes Chroniques de France; a royal compilation of the history of France, its manuscripts remarkably illuminated. It was compiled between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries
6145-45594654
Sinte Aelwaer; Elck serves Sinte Aelwaer with Grooter that is ghorred from many people. Satire on the twist. The raised appearance-holy Sinte Aelwaer as patrones of the twistzian people. Woman with aureole around the head, moving on a donkey (stubbornness), with three animals as attributes. In right hand, she holds a cat (cunning), under the left arm a pig (laziness, malignancy) and on her head is a magpie (lysomeness and back cover). According to the poem, the sound of these animals indicates twist. There is a rat on her shoulder, which may also refreicate to a back clap or to death, where sin is ultimately leading to. Left and below the show text in Dutch.
4443-75474021
The Wasps, the Partridges, and the Farmer; The Peacock and the Jackdaw, 1480, Florence
4443-75471666
Folio 262v, Bavaria, Germany, created in 1402
4430-11634
botany flowers Nymphea woodcut coloured from ""Das Destillierbuch"" (The distillation book) by Hieronymus Brunschwig printed by J. Grueninger Germany 1521 antique art and book shop Woelfle Munich,
4443-21947749
The Three Youths in the Fiery Furnace; Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany; about 1400 - 1410; Tempera colors, gold, silver paint, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 33.5 x 23.5 cm (13 3,16 x 9 1,4 in.)
4430-11635
botany trees common fig (ficus carica) woodcut coloured from ""Ortus sanitatis"" printed by Johann Pruess Strasbourg Germany 1497 antique art and book shop Woelfle Munich,
4443-21953342
The Creation of Animals; Ghent, Belgium; about 1475; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and gold paint on parchment; Leaf: 43.8 x 30.5 cm (17 1,4 x 12 in.)
4443-21953372
The Companions of Diomedes Changed to Geese; Ghent, Belgium; about 1475; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and gold paint on parchment; Leaf: 43.8 x 30.5 cm (17 1,4 x 12 in.)