Medieval Manuscripts Illustrations

Vibrant illustrations from medieval manuscripts, featuring biblical themes, intricate detailing, and decorative initials, showcasing religious narratives.

Initial E: An Archbishop; Unknown; Hildesheim, Germany, Europe; probably 1170s; Tempera colors, gold leaf, silver leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 28.2 x 18.9 cm (11 1/8 x 7 7/16 in.)

Initial I: The Eagle of Saint John the Evangelist. Unknown

Initial C: A Priest Celebrating Mass. Master of the Brussels Initials (Italian, active about 1389 - 1410)

Initial A: A Prophet. Circle of Stefan Lochner (German, died 1451)

Two Knights in Conversation at the Castle of Tears. Unknown

HISTORIA GENERAL DE ALFONSO X-SIG I-12.JESUS EN LA BARCA- TU MADRE Y TUS HERMANOS TE LLAMAN. Author: ALFONSO X EL SABIO (1221-1284). Location: MONASTERIO-BIBLIOTECA-COLECCION. SAN LORENZO DEL ESCORIAL. MADRID. SPAIN.

Saint Anastasia Enthroned; Saint Petronilla; Abbess Benedicta with a Crosier; Abbess Bridget with a Crosier; Abbess Gertrude with a Crosier. Unknown

Initial D: An Angel Holding Up the Sudarium. Masters of Dirc van Delf (Dutch, active about 1400 - about 1410)

Homage Paid to Richard II. Unknown

Leaf from a Beatus Manuscript: the Fourth Angel Sounds the Trumpet and an Eagle Cries Woe ca. 1180 Spanish Illustrated Beatus manuscripts bring to life an extraordinary vision of the end of the world, as recorded by Saint John in the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation) and filtered through the lens of Beatus of Liébana, an eighth-century Asturian monk. These manuscripts are unique to medieval Spain and a testament to the pervasive artistry and intellectual milieu of monastic culture there. The leaf shown here comes from a manuscript disassembled in the 1870s.This illustration presents two key protagonists from the eighth chapter of the Apocalypse: the fourth angel, who sounds a trumpet as the sun, moon, and stars darken; and an eagle who cries woe to the inhabitants of the earth.. Leaf from a Beatus Manuscript: the Fourth Angel Sounds the Trumpet and an Eagle Cries Woe. Spanish. ca. 1180. Tempera, gold, and ink on parchment. Manuscripts and Illuminations

The First Trumpet: Hail and Fire Fall from Heaven. Unknown

Ezekiel / Illumination 1230

God Burying Moses.

Saint John Handing a Letter to Messenger. Master of Jean de Mandeville (French, active 1350 - 1370)

Initial I: Paul Handing a Scroll to Friars. Unknown

Jephtha's Daughter and Her Maidens in the Mountains; Jephtha Sacrificing His Daughter.

Leaf from an Italian income with liturgical verses and illustration of a priest with mislect. Leaf from an Italian income with liturgical verses and an illustration of a standing priest with a mislift in frame with leaf motifs. Above the chalice, a host is depicted with the crucified Christ and Maria and John on either side of the Cross. The leaf is folded double and on the inside and the verso are more verses. In addition, a detailed initial with leaf motifs on the verso.

Christ in limbo / Illumination

HISTORIA GENERAL DE ALFONSO X-ANUNC-VISITAC Y NCTO S JUAN BAUTISTA-F190V. Author: ALFONSO X EL SABIO (1221-1284). Location: MONASTERIO-BIBLIOTECA-COLECCION. SAN LORENZO DEL ESCORIAL. MADRID. SPAIN. VIRGIN MARY. SAN JUAN BAUTISTA NIÑO / SAN JUANITO. SAN GABRIEL ARCANGEL / ARCANGEL SAN GABRIEL.

Initial B: The Lord Enthroned. Unknown

Part of Stephen Harding's Bible. The 'I' of 'In principo', formed by St John (in the white habit of a Cistercian) and his eagle , which is shown digging it's talons into his eyes, nose, mouth and ears, symbolising the word of God being imprinted upon his senses. An example of Cistercian art. Dated 12th Century

The God of Love Dancing. Unknown

Initial Q: The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence. Unknown

Manuscript Illumination with David in Prayer in an Initial M, from a Psalter. Artist: Girolamo dai Libri (Italian, Verona 1474-1555 Verona). Culture: Italian. Dimensions: Overall: 8 15/16 x 6 1/4 in. (22.7 x 15.9 cm)Illumination: 3 3/16 x 3 1/8 in. (8.1 x 8 cm)Mat: 19 3/16 x 14 3/16 in. (48.7 x 36.1 cm). Date: 1501-2.Like the singing monks in Girolamo dai Libri's miniature executed for the same psalter (displayed nearby), David appears here in prayer with his mouth open and his gaze turned heavenward. In many images of David, God the Father appears above him as the object of his inspiration. Like the monks, he appears to look beyond the frame of the initial, as if he were reading the text of the psalter. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Psalter with weekday holiday day Hymns according to the Roman Curia, by Anonymous Sienese painter , Matteo di Giovanni, 1474, 15th Century, illuminated manuscript. Italy, Tuscany, Siena, Osservanza basilica. Detail. Dixit- illuminated page verses psalms prayer incipit: beginning initial letter plant volutes rinceaux blue yellow green red black white.

Moses and Pharaoh. Master of Jean de Mandeville (French, active 1350 - 1370)

Day and night Antiphonary from Holy Saturday to the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, by Anonymous Sienese painter, 15th Century, illuminated manuscript. Italy, Tuscany, Siena, Osservanza Basilica. Whole artwork. Illuminated page with the Elevation of the host page score notes music chant square incipit: beginning initial letter officiant garment: dress cassock dalmatic altar chalice: goblet book Holy Scriptures host light b.

Initial D: The Anointing of David. Date/Period: Ca. 1270 - 1280. Folio. Tempera colors, gold, and iron gall ink on parchment. Height: 170 mm (6.69 in); Width: 119 mm (4.68 in). Author: Bute Master.

The Cleansing of the Temple; 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.)

An Angel Showing the Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns to Saint John. Master of Jean de Mandeville (French, active 1350 - 1370)

Initial R: The Annunciation. Jacobellus of Salerno (Italian, active about 1270)

Kahedin and Palamedes Meeting the Seneschal Keu. Unknown

Decorated Initial D; Decorated Initial M. Unknown

King Mark and Andret on Horseback with Keu. Unknown

Initial V: The Ascension. Master Michael (Austrian, active about 1420 until the mid-15th century)

Initial F: Elkanah with Hannah and Peninnah in the Temple. Unknown

The Slavery of the Israelites. Unknown

Initial D: The Nativity. Master of the Lee Hours (Flemish, active about 1450 - 1470)

CODEX AUREUS-ULTIMA CENA-MINIATURA CAROLINGIA S XI-. Location: MONASTERIO-BIBLIOTECA-COLECCION, SAN LORENZO DEL ESCORIAL, MADRID, SPAIN.

VITAE ILDEPHONSI - SAN ILDEFONSO EN ORACION ANTE LA VIRGEN - MS10087-F8V. Author: SANTO JULIAN DE TOLEDO (ca. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN.

Manuscript Illumination with David in Prayer in an Initial M, from a Psalter 1501-2 Girolamo dai Libri Italian Like the singing monks in Girolamo dai Libri's miniature executed for the same psalter (displayed nearby), David appears here in prayer with his mouth open and his gaze turned heavenward. In many images of David, God the Father appears above him as the object of his inspiration. Like the monks, he appears to look beyond the frame of the initial, as if he were reading the text of the psalter.. Manuscript Illumination with David in Prayer in an Initial M, from a Psalter 463604

Opening of La Sfera, border design with human figures (partially damaged); initials. 1400 - 1499. Dati, Gregorio, 1362-1436. Manuscripts, Miniatures (illuminations). Spencer Collection. Jesus Christ , Crucifixion, Trinity

Book of Ezekiel / Illumination / 1230

BIBLIA DE SAN LUIS DE FRANCIA. Location: CATEDRAL-BIBLIOTECA. Toledo. SPANIEN.

The Marriage of the Virgin; 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.)

The Flagellation. Unknown

Parting the Red Sea, fol. 43v. 1390. Manuscripts, Illuminations. Spencer Collection

Initial O: The Virgin and Child. Unknown

The Crucifixion; 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.)

Book of Jeremiah / Illumination / c.1230

Prayer to Robert of Bury with Four Animals in Procession. Unknown

Initial I: A Saint Holding a Scroll. Bute Master (Franco-Flemish, active about 1260 - 1290)

Illuminated text in a medieval choir book (1470) in the Victoria and Albert Museum in central London in the United Kingdom.

The Nativity.

Initial D: Pentecost; Flanders, Belgium; about 1260 - 1270; Tempera colors, gold leaf, silver, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 48.1 x 34.9 cm (18 15,16 x 13 3,4 in.)

Joseph in Prison with a Butler and a Baker. Unknown

Jacob's Journey to Egypt. Unknown

LIBRO DE HORAS-CRISTO MAJESTAD. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN. JESUS. CRISTO EN MAJESTAD.

Saint Mary Magdalene. Master of Jacques de Besançon (French, active about 1480 - 1500)

Noah's Family and the Animals Boarding the Ark.

The Virgin and Child in a White Rose; Norfolk perhaps (written), East Anglia, England; illumination about 1190; written about 1490; Tempera colors and gold leaf on parchment; Leaf: 11.9 x 17 cm (4 11,16 x 6 11,16 in.)

Sacramentario obispo Oliba.

The Visitation.

Decorated Initial E. Unknown

September Calendar Page; Making Wine; Libra. Unknown

Offering of the Paschal Lamb from the German Bible published by Anton Koberger, Nürnberg, 1483. Anonymous. Woodcut with hand coloring;

Eighth vision: as John watches, God in heaven sends a flowing river through the city of Jerusalem; John attempts to worship an angel who instead points to God. (Apoc. 22:1-9). 1425 - 1450. Religious books, Manuscripts. Manuscripts and Archives Division. Angels, Jerusalem, God

Book of Zechariah / Illumination/ c.1230

Leaf from a Gradual: Historiated Initial R: The Resurrection (recto), mid-1300s. Italy, Naples. Ink, tempera, and gold on parchment; sheet: 55 x 40 cm (21 5/8 x 15 3/4 in.). This leaf was taken from a gradual, a large volume containing songs for the mass. This single leaf shows the introductory passage for Easter Sunday. The initial R is filled with the representation of the resurrection of Christ. The depiction of Saint Francis of Assisi in the floral decoration points to an origin from a Franciscan monastery. Due to the great plague, the mendicant orders to which the Franciscans belonged were the recipients of civil charitable donations. Naples, where the leaf is said to have been made, was struck by a severe earthquake around the middle of the 1300s, in addition to the plague.

Christ and the Woman of Samaria; 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.)

Decorated Initial D. Unknown

Adam's descendants / Illumination

The Healing of the Paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda; 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.)

Fragment of a mass: initial O with the celebration of the mass, draughtsman: Lippo Vanni, 1342 - 1346, parchment (animal material), brush, pen, h 555 mm × w 375 mm

Decorated Initial D. Unknown

BIBLIA DE SAN LUIS-1226/34-DESTRUCCION DE JERUSALEM. Location: CATEDRAL-BIBLIOTECA. Toledo. SPAIN.

Leaf with handwriting and Christ on the cross, possibly from a tidal book, anonymous, c. 1500 - c. 1599 drawing. manuscript France parchment (animal material). ink. watercolor (paint). deck paint. pen / brush

Initial D: The Trinity; Paris, France; about 1250 - 1260; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 19.2 x 13.3 cm (7 9,16 x 5 1,4 in.)

Christ Crowned with Thorns. Dated: 1477. Medium: woodcut. Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Author: German 15th Century.

Decorated Initial E. Unknown

Leaf from a Beatus Manuscript: the Sixth Angel Delivers the Four Angels that had been Bound at the River Euphrates; an Altar Appears in the Heavens as the Enthroned Christ Raises His Hand in Blessing ca. 1180 Spanish Illustrated Beatus manuscripts bring to life an extraordinary vision of the end of the world, as recorded by Saint John in the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation) and filtered through the lens of Beatus of Liébana, an eighth-century Asturian monk. These manuscripts are unique to medieval Spain and a testament to the pervasive artistry and intellectual milieu of monastic culture there. The leaf shown here comes from a manuscript disassembled in the 1870s.The Christ figure, offering a blessing, is framed by a celestial arch in the upper left corner of the miniature. Below him, four angels have been freed from their bindings. The Euphrates River, complete with swimming fish, divides these angels from the golden altar and the trumpeting sixth angel.. Leaf from a Beatus Manuscript:

Leaf from an Antiphonary: Historiated Initial P with the Prophet Samuel; Arms of the Visconti Family and the Olivetan Order, c. 1439-1447. Olivetan Master (Italian). Ink, tempera and gold on vellum; each leaf: 59.3 x 42.7 cm (23 3/8 x 16 13/16 in.). This leaf is distinguished by a large initial P depicting Samuel, the last and one of the greatest of Israels judges. It introduces the text Preparte corda vestra domino et servite (“Prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve”). In the lower margin are the arms of the Visconti family, rulers of Milan, featuring an eagle (left) and a coiled serpent (right). At bottom center is the emblem of the Olivetan Order, a reformed branch of the Benedictines founded in 1319 known as the “white monks.” The Olivetan monastery in Milan was founded in 1400 and it appears that this leaf belonged to a set of choral books presented to the monastery by one of the Visconti, perhaps about 1439-47. The so-called Olivetan Master takes his name from a luxuriously

MTI1 - CANTIGA DE SANTA MARIA Nº141 - F197R - LA VIRGEN SALVA A UN MONJE DEVOTO QUE SE POSTRABA ANTE SU ALTAR - SIGLO XIII. Author: ALFONSO X EL SABIO (1221-1284). Location: MONASTERIO-BIBLIOTECA-COLECCION. SAN LORENZO DEL ESCORIAL. MADRID. SPAIN.

BIBLIA BURGOS-S XII-LIBRO DE NUMEROS-INICIAL L-ROMANICO. Location: BIBLIOTECA PROVINCIAL. BURGOS. SPAIN.

Psalter with weekday holiday day Hymns according to the Roman Curia tradition, by Anonymous Sienese painter, 15th Century, illuminated manuscript. Italy, Tuscany, Siena, Osservanza basilica. Detail. David- illuminated page verses psalms prayer incipit: beginning initial letter square old man beard king David halo: aureole crown book meadow trees plant volutes rinceaux blue yellow green red black white.

The Torment of Unchaste Priests and Nuns. Date/Period: 1475. Folio. Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink on parchment. Height: 363 mm (14.29 in); Width: 262 mm (10.31 in). Author: Simon Marmion.

Initial E: Josiah Sacrificing at an Altar; Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy; about 1280 - 1290; Tempera colors, gold leaf, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 37.5 x 24.8 cm (14 3,4 x 9 3,4 in.)

Day and night Antiphonary from Holy Saturday to the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, by Anonymous Sienese painter, 15th Century, illuminated manuscript. Italy, Tuscany, Siena, Osservanza Basilica. Whole artwork. Illuminated page with the Pentecost page score notes music chant square incipit: beginning initial letter Virgin Mary Madonna apostles light dove Holy Spirit: Holy Ghost little flames heads halos: aureoles plant vol.

13th century, Armenian Evangelical manuscript, The entry of Christ into Jerusalem

Initial C: The Entombment. Unknown

Large historiated initial on gold field. Three-side border with scenes painted, including monk taking the habit. Black and red initials.. 1475 - 1500. Religious books, Manuscripts. Manuscripts and Archives Division

Adoring the Magi, wedding at Cana and baptising Christ, miniature from Liber Sacramentorum (the Book of Sacramentary), Latin manuscript 1 folio 18 verso, 10th Century.

Initial D: David in Prayer. Unknown

Leaf with miniature of the Adoration of the Magi. Large historiated initial showing the Adoration of the Magi, on gold field, with three-side border showing donors, animals, flowers, and other scenes (including figures of Jacob Engbrechtsz and Margriet Gerritsdr.).. 1475 - 1500. Religious books, Manuscripts. Manuscripts and Archives Division

The Adoration of the Magi.

LIBRO DE HORAS ESCRITO EN FRANCIA S XIII. DORMICION DE LA VIRGEN-F86V. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN. VIRGIN MARY.

BIBLIA SACRA - 960 ,PROBABLE OBRA DE CALIGRAFO FLORETINUS - VIRGEN CON NINO Y UN ANGEL - SIG 2 - FOL X. Author: SANCTUS Y FLORETINUS (S X) COPISTAS. Location: COLEGIATA DE SAN ISIDORO. LEON. SPAIN. VIRGIN MARY.

Decorated Initial V. Unknown

Jesus in the Temple / Illumin. / C13th

LIBRO DE HORAS AL USO DE ROMA - FLANDES SIGLO XV -IZQ: RESURECCION DE LAZARO - DCHA: INICIAL CON MISA DE DIFUNTOS. Location: CONGRESO DE LOS DIPUTADOS-BIBLIOTECA. MADRID. SPAIN. LAZARUS OF BETHANY.

Manuscript Illumination with the Presentation in the Temple in an Initial S, from a Gradual 1450-60 Attributed to Cosmè Tura (Cosimo di Domenico di Bonaventura) Italian Listen to experts illuminate this artwork's story Listen Play or pause #2853. Initial S with the Presentation in the Temple Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. We are working to make it available as soon as possible.. Manuscript Illumination with the Presentation in the Temple in an Initial S, from a Gradual 463545

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