Medieval Miniatures

Miniature of two ships, full of heathen knights, approaching the island where Celidoine is sheltering. Image taken from f. 52v of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in Frenc Еще

Miniature of a battle scene as king Evalac besieges Tholomers in the castle of Valacin. Image taken from f. 20 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL Royal Еще

Bas-de-page scene of a hermit lewdly embracing a miller’s wife, with a caption reading, ‘…resc. lecherie. ou omidice. et entitiun du meindre…’ Image taken from f. 177 of Book of Hours, Use of Sarum ('The Taymou Еще

Framed miniature of Dante, Beatrice, and the heaven of the moon. Image taken from f. 131 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin commentary; the Capitolo (ff Еще

Miniature of Melik and his company riding forth, but retiring upon seeing the enemy. Image taken from f. 28 of Skazanie o Mamaevom Poboishche (the Tale of the Rout of Mamai). Written in Russian Church Slavonic. Еще

Detail of a miniature of Scipio and Leulius playing chess while Scaevola plays pelota. Image taken from f. 151v of Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et de autres gens (index Memorabilia, index Facta et Dicta Memo Еще

Detail of a miniature of Dante and Virgil encountering other kinds of imposters and forgers, including Simon of Troy and Adamo of Brescia, in illustration of Canto XXX. Image taken from f. 55 of Divina Commedia Еще

Miniature of the Annunciation to the Shepherds. Image taken from f. 146v of Book of Hours. Written in French, with some rubrics in Latin. The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gabriel appear Еще

Miniature of Thisbe finding the body of Pyramus. Image taken from f. 22 of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation (index De claris mulieribus, Le livre de femmes no Еще

Miniature of Dante and Virgil entering the area devoted to simoniacs and magicians, while Dante speaks to the upside-down figure of Pope Nicholas III, with a figure of the True Church in the centre, as a lady d Еще

Framed miniature of Dante with Beatrice speaking to triumphant souls in heaven. Image taken from f. 167 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin commentary; th Еще

Framed miniature of Beatrice, Dante, five female souls, and the moon. Image taken from f. 132v of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin commentary; the Capitol Еще

Detail of a miniature of Joseph, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ Child during the Flight into Egypt, in Matfré Ermengau of Béziers's Breviari d'Amour. Image taken from f. 221v of Breviari d'Amor (Catalan prose Еще

Miniature of God the Father holding an orb. Image taken from f. 62v of Book of Hours. Written in French, with some rubrics in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts he Еще

Detail of a miniature of Claudius and Herod. Image taken from f. 274v of Les fait des Romains. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists of over 2,000 Еще

Miniature of Mark with his Evangelist symbol, the lion. Image taken from f. 124 of Book of Hours. Written in French, with some rubrics in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval ma Еще

Coloured initial 'B'(eatus) in green, with pen-flourished decoration and music staves. Image taken from f. 19v of Fragment of a leaf from an English early 13th century Breviary containing the Office for St Nich Еще

Detail of a miniature of Caesar in battle. Image taken from f. 254v of Les anciennes hystoires rommaines (A compilation of ancient history in two parts, each preceded by a table of contents: Part 1, l'Histoire Еще

Detail of a miniature of Narcissus looking into a fountain. Image taken from f. 11 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540 Еще

Miniature of the Creation of Earth. Image taken from f. 4 of Bible History. Written in German. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), 1st Viscount Brackle Еще

Detail of a miniature of two armoured knights battling. Image taken from f. 171v of Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et de autres gens (index Memorabilia, index Facta et Dicta Memorabilia) (part 2, vol. 1). Writ Еще

Detail of a miniature of Melibee and Prudence. Image taken from f. 52 of Moral treatises, poems, prayers and hymns, including the Moralised Game of Chess (ff. 1-51), the tale of Melibeus (ff. 52-65v), a French Еще

Detail of a miniature of a man teaching. Image taken from f. 48 of Circa instans (index Herbal). Written in French. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the d Еще

Miniature of Artemisia defeating the Rhodians. Image taken from f. 90v of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation (index De claris mulieribus, Le livre de femmes nob Еще

Marginal miniature of Helen holding a book, with an inscription reading, 'Seynt Eline', and the crown of thorns, with an inscription reading, 'Þe corone of crist'. Image taken from f. 9v of Travels (index Itine Еще

Detail of a miniature of the Seven Ages of Man, at the beginning of book 6. Image taken from f. 139v of De proprietatibus rerum in French (Livre des proprietez des choses). Written in French. The BL Royal Manu Еще

Miniature of the Grand Duke Dmitri advancing as far as the Kulikova Pole before halting. Image taken from f. 32 of Skazanie o Mamaevom Poboishche (the Tale of the Rout of Mamai). Written in Russian Church Slavo Еще

Miniature of a mass attended by officials of a nunnery inside a church. On the right, a priest, in chasuble, is at the altar, with a deacon, an abbess with book and crozier, and nuns, including the sacristan pu Еще

Miniature of an asp and a man, illustrating the text that the asp puts one ear against the ground, and blocked its other ear with the tip of its tail, so that it could not hear a snake-charmer's spell. Image ta Еще

Detail of a single column miniature of Daniel being placed into the lion's den. Image taken from f. 125v of Chronique of Baudouin d'Avennes (L'histoire tripartite, Le trésor de sapience). Written in French. Th Еще

Detail of a miniature of the arrest of Thomas of Woodstock, the Duke of Gloucester. Image taken from f. 134 of Chroniques, Vol. IV, part 2. Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection Еще

Detail of a miniature of a teacher giving a lecture beside a stream. Image taken from f. 166 of De proprietatibus rerum (Livre des proprietez des choses). Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, Еще

Полностраничная миниатюра с упреками в адрес двух ссорящихся израильтян (Ex. 2: 13-14), в архитектурной рамке. Изображение взято из ф. 66 Хаггады для Пассовера ('Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Уинстон Черчилль.

Detail of a miniature of Dante and Beatrice before the Virgin and Child, seated in a garden and surrounded by angels and a kneeling Bernard, in illustration of Paradiso XXXIII. Image taken from f. 186 of Divina Еще

Miniature of the achievements of arms of the first knights of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Image taken from f. 68 of Statuts de l'Ordre de la Toison d'Or (index Statutes and Armorial of the Order of the Gold Еще

Miniature of the Lover seeking the entrance to the Garden of Pleasures, from Le Roman de la Rose. Image taken from f. 1 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after Еще

Miniature of the Duchess Flagentine supervising the building of the 'Judgement Tombs'; miniature of Joseph of Arimathea laying down his shirt on the water for 150 people who are pure of heart to cross the sea. Еще

Detail of a miniature of Joseph of Arimathea disputing with a ruler, while a man lies nearby on the ground. Image taken from f. 69v of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in Еще

Detail of miniature of Joseph supplying grain to his brothers. Image taken from f. 34 of Bible historiale (vol. 1). Written in French, with some Latin for frontispiece. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a c Еще

Miniature of Martin of Vertou surrounded by others, at the beginning of his Life. Image taken from f. 73 of Life of Eustace and other saints, and a collection of moral treatises. Written in French. The Egerton Еще

Detail of a miniature of king Eralac wakening his chamberlain to witness an apparition. Image taken from f. 11v of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL Roya Еще

Миниатюра военного совета перед нападением на Антиохию, с частичной границей. Изображение взято из фр. 91 "a rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum", на французском языке, с продолжением до 1231 года. Венгер п Еще

Detail of a miniature of Jean de Meun writing the opening words of his poem (which begins on f. 28), in the Roman de la Rose. Image taken from f. 69v of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. Henry Yates Thompso Еще

Miniature of Bolingbroke claiming the crown Image taken from f. 57 of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (index Histoire rimée de Richard II, The Capture and De Еще

Detail of a miniature of Dante witnessing the meeting of Aeneas and Anchises. Image taken from f. 155 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a Britis Еще

Detail of a miniature of King Arthur dictating to a scribe, with a full bar border including men and animals engaging in combat. Image taken from f. 140 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Mo Еще

Miniature of eagles, one holding a fish, illustrating the text that when it is young the eagle can see fish in the sea from a great height; but when it gets old its eyes become dim, so it flies towards the sun Еще

Miniature of Sir Galahad taking the dying king Mordrains into his arms inside a building. Image taken from f. 136v of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL R Еще

Miniature of the renunciation of Francis before a bishop. Image taken from f. 149 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and phil Еще

Миниатюра третьей чумы, лисы. Изображение взято из f. 12v Хаггады для Пассовера ("Золотой Хаггады"). Уинстон Черчилль.

Miniature depicting Melusine supervising the building of a fortified chateau. Image taken from f. 43v of Jean d'Arras, Roman de Mélusine (imperfect). Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a c Еще

Detail of a section of a six-part miniature of the days of Creation, of God creating the fishes and Adam and Eve, at the beginning of Genesis. Image taken from f. 1 of Bible (Genesis-Psalms), imperfect, ending Еще

Miniature of the Crucifixion in an architectural border with sculptures of Peter and Paul, the arms of Anne Boleyn, and subsidiary medallions of the four evangelists (damaged). Image taken from f. 3 of Readings Еще

Лот и его дочери, бегущие из Содома, деталь миниатюры, изображающей сцены из "Генезиса". Изображение взято из ф. 4v Хаггады для Пассовера ("Золотой Хаггады"). Уинстон Черчилль.

Detail of a marginal miniature of a naked man blowing a trumpet from which a rabbit emerges, with a grotesque entwined and a squirrel holding a nut below. Image taken from f. 89 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Q Еще

Framed miniature of Dante talking to St Benedict, who is on the golden ladder with other souls. Image taken from f. 165 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Lati Еще

Full-page miniature in three registers, of Joseph of Arimethea asking for Christ's body, Joseph and a woman with funeral linens, and the Deposition, and below, two women presenting an diseased breast to a physi Еще

Detail of a miniature of Sulla defeating Archelaus. Image taken from f. 209 of Les anciennes hystoires rommaines (A compilation of ancient history in two parts, each preceded by a table of contents: Part 1, l'H Еще

Miniature in four segments: 1. Pierre Bersuire reading; 2. the Death of Hasdrubal; 3. John II enthroned; 4. A battle illustrating the second Punic War, at the beginning of decade 2. Image taken from f. 241 of A Еще

Miniature of the drawing up of a treaty between France and England. Image taken from f. 10v of Chroniques, Vol. IV, part 2. Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manu Еще

Miniature of 'Ypone' (Hippo) drowning herself. Image taken from f. 86 of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation (index De claris mulieribus, Le livre de femmes nobl Еще

Miniature of Orithyia and Antiope, queens of the Amazons. Image taken from f. 31v of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation (index De claris mulieribus, Le livre de Еще

Miniature of Helen and Paris in a castle. Image taken from f. 54 of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation (index De claris mulieribus, Le livre de femmes nobles et Еще

Detail of a miniature of the citizens of Martigny on the river Dranse in Switzerland feeing in advance of the invading Roman armiesm with boats being readied for depature. Image taken from f. 116v of Les commen Еще

Miniature of Sir Galahad being given keys to the Maiden's Castle by an old monk. Image taken from f. 97 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL Royal Manusc Еще

Миниатюра императора Ираклия, несущего Истинный Крест, у ворот Иерусалима, с полной окантовкой, содержащей королевские гербы Англии на знамени и на полотне, возвышенном коронованным рулевым колесом и окруженном Еще

Detail of a miniature of Cleriadus and Meliadice with three pairs of dancers. Image taken from f. 159 of Cleriadus et Meliadice, Historia Apollonii regis Tyri. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collec Еще

Detail of a miniature of the voyage of Jason. Image taken from f. 3 of Historia destructionis Troiae in a French translation. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Coll Еще

Miniature of Gadiffer of Scotland and Pierrote riding on the adventure of the steep mountain, with a partial trompe l'oeil border. Image taken from f. 275v of Perceforest (Anciennes croniques Dangleterre, faict Еще

Miniature of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Image taken from f. 153 of Book of Hours. Written in French, with some rubrics in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval man Еще

Detail of a miniature of the rape of Prosperina. Image taken from f. 159v of Le recoeil des histoires de Troyes (Le livre nomme Hercules). Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as t Еще

Miniature of the Entry into Jerusalem with a full border with the arms of the order of Saint John of Jerusalem and of Montmirail and the motto: 'Domine in te confido'. Image taken from f. 1 of Saint mistere de Еще

Detail of a miniature of Dante and Beatrice before Thomas Aquinas, who presents the two to Dominic and Francis, both standing on winged cherubim, in illustration of Paradiso, Canto XI. Image taken from f. 148 o Еще

Miniature of the author, Jean de Courcy, conducted to a garden by Charity; with a full border containing the arms of Edward IV and four lozenges with a white rose of the York family, and the Yorkist badge 'Dieu Еще

Detail of a miniature of the author, Jean de Courcy, accompanied by Virtues leaving the Forest of Temptation, at the beginning of book 3. Image taken from f. 194 of Le chemin de Vaillance, and other texts (see Еще

Miniature of the author, Jean Creton, and the French knight who requests him to go to England. Image taken from f. 2 of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (inde Еще

Detail of a miniature of two men riding. Image taken from f. 18v of Moral treatises, poems, prayers and hymns, including the Moralised Game of Chess (ff. 1-51), the tale of Melibeus (ff. 52-65v), a French trans Еще

Detail of a miniature of a physician with a book and a box. Image taken from f. 34 of Moral treatises, poems, prayers and hymns, including the Moralised Game of Chess (ff. 1-51), the tale of Melibeus (ff. 52-65 Еще

Миниатюра города Константинополя с большой статуей императора Юстиниана, стоящей перед кафедральным собором Святой Софии. Изображение взято из фр. 9в "Страстей по Мандевилю" (индекс Voyage d 'outre mer, Itiner<unk> s).

Miniature of a standing man and woman in a garden. Image taken from f. 2v of The romance poem 'Roberte the Devyll'. Written in English. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Еще

Miniature of Sulpicia leaving her friends, to follow her husband Lentulus Cruscellio into exile. Image taken from f. 128 of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation ( Еще

Detail of a miniature of Nature forging a baby. Image taken from f. 124 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), 1st Еще

Detail of a miniature of Pygmalion kneeling before his sculpture-turned-woman. Image taken from f. 138v of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and phil Еще

Detail of a miniature of Venus coming to the rescue in a chariot drawn by six white doves. Image taken from f. 138v of Roman de la Rose (index Romance of the Rose). Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript Еще

Detail of a miniature depicting Nature forging a baby. Image taken from f. 140 of Roman de la Rose (index Romance of the Rose). Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval Еще

Miniature of Nature dispatching Gennie to the God of Love. Image taken from f. 166 of Roman de la Rose (index Romance of the Rose). Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medie Еще

Miniature of a fisherman building a fire on the back of a whale, thinking that it is an island, at the begininng of Chapter 8 of Book 1. Image taken from f. 11 of Spiegel der Weisheit. Written in German. The E Еще

Miniature of Christ distributing food during the miracle of the loaves and fishes; miniature of Christ giving the keys to the kingdom of God to Peter, in Matfré Ermengau of Béziers's Breviari d'Amour. Image tak Еще

Detail of a miniature of the Tree of Consanguinity from a gloss on Book 4 of the Decretals. Image taken from f. 257v of Decretals of Gregory IX. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Coll Еще

Detail of a miniature of Caecilius Metellus leading the Macedonian usurper Andricus in triumph. Image taken from f. 186v of De casibus virorum illustrium in French translation (Des cas des ruynes des nobles hom Еще

Detail of the lower two registers of a full-page miniature, with various medical treatments, and in the lower register, a nimbed seated figure blessing in the outer compartments, and a patient in bed in the cen Еще

Miniature of the cardinal sinners being punished in Hell, in illustration of Canto V. Image taken from f. 9 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a Еще

Detail of a miniature of Glaucus visiting Circe. Image taken from f. 241v of Metamorphoses, second anonymous French translation (Ovide moralisé). Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also kno Еще

Detail of a miniature of knights jousting. Image taken from f. 205v of Cleriadus et Meliadice, Historia Apollonii regis Tyri. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Coll Еще

Detail of a miniature of Dante and Virgil witnessing the punishment of the diviners, whose heads are turned backwards because they had attempted to see too far into the future, in illustration of Canto XX. Imag Еще

Miniature of a dragon and demons being cast out of heaven and falling towards the earth, from Revelation 12:7-9; miniature of a dragon attacking a winged woman, from Revelation 12:13-16. Image taken from f. 20v Еще

Detail of a miniature of a bishop and a saint holding a key (one of them is probably Peter), at the beginning of chapter 49. Image taken from f. 27 of Livre de Sydrac (index Book of Sydrac; Book of Sidrac; La F Еще

Detail of a miniature of the women of Rome praying to the gods. Image taken from f. 299v of Les anciennes hystoires rommaines (A compilation of ancient history in two parts, each preceded by a table of contents Еще

Miniature of Richard II at Conway, disguised in a priest's cowl. Image taken from f. 19v of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (index Histoire rimée de Richard Еще

Miniature of the Adoration of the Magi, in Matfré Ermengau of Béziers's Breviari d'Amour. Image taken from f. 221 of Breviari d'Amor (Catalan prose version). Written in Spanish (Catalan), with some Hebrew (ff. Еще