Zoomorphic initial from BL Harley 3052, f. 3

Zoomorphic initial 'I'(nter) of a standing dog (?) at the beginning of the first part of Gregory the Great's Moralia in Job. Image taken from f. 3 of Moralia in Job, books 1-9 (ff. 1v-113); Homiliae X ad monachos (ff. 113-123); shorter texts (ff. 123-125), including a letter to the antipope Clement III, the ~Ordo ad includendum masculum vel feminam~, an acrostic poem which spells out 'Gregorius' (f. 124v) and the ~Epitaphium Frederici episcopi Leodiensis~(f. 125). Written in Latin.

The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library in London. The Harley Manuscripts are part of the larger collection known as the Harley Collection, which was assembled by Robert Harley (1661–1724) and his son Edward Harley (1689–1741). Robert Harley was a prominent English statesman and bibliophile, and he began amassing a vast collection of books and manuscripts in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The Harley Manuscripts are known for their diversity and include a wide range of texts, including historical chronicles, illuminated manuscripts, legal documents, literary works, and scientific treatises. The collection contains over 7,000 manuscripts, and it is considered one of the most important manuscript collections in the British Library.

The Harley Manuscripts are numbered with the prefix "Harley," followed by a specific manuscript number. Each manuscript in the collection has its own unique content and history, and they cover a broad spectrum of topics and time periods. Some of the manuscripts in the collection are beautifully illuminated, with intricate illustrations and decorations.

gregory the great caesarius of arles zoomorphic bl harley medieval manuscripts latin manuscript zoomorphic decoration poetry poem literature illuminated initials medieval manuscript illustrated books medieval miniatures british library

1300 - 1500

British Library

http://europeana.eu/

Public Domain