Medieval Miniatures

Miniature of Cuthbert healing a child ill with the plague, from Chapter 33 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 62v of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extracts from the Historia Ecclesiastica (Histo More

Miniature of Cuthbert teaching the monks in the monastery of Lindisfarne, from Chapter 16 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 35v of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extracts from the Historia Eccle More

Illuminated initial 'T'(ractatus) at the beginning of Johannes de Sacro Bosco's Tractatus de sphaera. Diagram of the heavenly spheres. Image taken from f. 17 of Various calendarial and computistical treatises. More

Foliate initial 'D'(e natura) with zoomorphic motifs, at the beginning of the prologue to book 3 of Bede's De Temporum Ratione. Image taken from f. 30v of Miscellany works on Computus and astrology. Written in More

Miniature of Cuthbert's arm emerging from his tomb to heal a paralytic who is praying before it, from Historia ecclesiastica, bk. iv, 31-32, in Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 83 of Prose More

Puzzle initial 'P'(rima) and decorated initial 'H'(uius). Image taken from f. 158 of Various theological and mathematical tracts, including the prose life of Cuthbert, incomplete (ff. 74-101v), 22 miracles of C More

Puzzle initial 'P'(rima) and decorated initial 'H'(uius). Image taken from f. 158 of Various theological and mathematical tracts, including the prose life of Cuthbert, incomplete (ff. 74-101v), 22 miracles of C More

Miniature of Cuthbert healing the wife of Hildmaer, who was beset by demons, from Chapter 15 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 33v of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extracts from the Historia Ec More

Miniature of Cuthbert speaking to the birds and driving them away from the crops which he had sown, from Chapter 19 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 42v of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extrac More

Miniature of an eagle bringing Cuthbert and his companion a fish, which they share with the eagle, from Chapter 12 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 28v of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extrac More

Detail of a puzzle initial 'M'(inuciaru[m]) with pen-flourishing developing into a 'J-border', at the beginning of a treatise on vulgar fractions attributed to Robertus Anglicus. Image taken from f. 59 of Vario More

Initial 'T'(empora) of an emperor enthroned, representing perhaps a personification of Time, at the begining of book 2 of Bede's De natura rerum et ratione temporum. Image taken from f. 22 of Miscellany works o More

Detail of initial 'D'(um) with foliate decoration. Image taken from f. 45 of Liber testimonium veteris testamenti (parts 1 and 3); Sermo (f. 117); In canticum canticorum (9 excerpts)(f. 117v). Written in Latin. More

Text page with a coloured initial 'A'. Image taken from f. 75 of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extracts from the Historia Ecclesiastica (History of the English Church and People). Written in Latin. Henry Yates Thomp More

Miniature of Cuthbert speaking to a crowd and giving instruction in the way of salvation to those who have come to him from across Britain, from Chapter 22 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from More

Miniature of the abbess Aelfflaed and one of her nuns being healed by Cuthbert's girdle, which she wraps around her head, from Chapter 23 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 48v of Prose Li More

Miniature of monks at Cuthbert's hermitage signalling with torches to the monks of Lindisfarne that Cuthbert is dead, from Chapter 40 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 74vF of Prose Life More

Decorated initial 'SE'(cedens) and diagram, in an Astronomical treatise. Image taken from f. 47v of Astronomical treatises (ending imperfectly). Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician an More

Detail of a decorated initial 'P'(rincipium), from Chapter 2 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 7v of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extracts from the Historia Ecclesiastica (History of the Engli More

Miniature of two monks at the monastery of Tynemouth praying for the safety of those blown away in a gale, from Chapter 3 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 11 of Prose Life of Cuthbert; e More

Zoomorphic initial 'S'(imon) at the beginning of book 3 of Bede's Commentary on Catholic Epistles. Image taken from f. 41 of Commentary on Catholic Epistles. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers More

Decorated initial 'S'(anctissimo) at the beginning of Bede's Life of Cuthbert, with the ink stamp of the Royal Society of London in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 1 of Prose Vita sancti Cuthberti (ff. 1- More

Initial 'R' with the arms of Henry Despenser, bishop of Norwich, in the upper margin the signature of 'William Howarde 1579', in the right margin an ink drawing of a lion rampant, and in the lower margin the i More

Miniature of Cuthbert performing a miracle by tasting water and giving it the flavour of wine, from Chapter 35 of Bede's prose Life of St Cuthbert. Image taken from f. 66 of Prose Life of Cuthbert; extracts fro More

Decorated initial at the beginning of the prayer against poison. Image taken from f. 37 of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in Latin, with English. The "BL Harley Man More

Detail of an initial 'Q'(uoniam) from the incipit page, at the beginning of Luke. Image taken from f. 43 of Gospels, imperfect (the 'Royal Bible'). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also kn More

Decorated initial with spirals and interlace at the beginning of an extract from Luke 24. Image taken from f. 4v of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in Latin, with Eng More

Decorated initial at the beginning of the Lorica of Laidcenn. Image taken from f. 38 of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in Latin, with English. The "BL Harley Manusc More

Zoomorphic initial with interlace at the beginning of John 18. Image taken from f. 11 of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in Latin, with English. The "BL Harley Manus More

Detail of a miniature of an ox, the symbol of Luke, with God the Father above, at the beginning of Luke. Image taken from f. 43 of Gospels, imperfect (the 'Royal Bible'). Written in Latin. In artistic depictio More

Detail of a zoomorphic initial 'D' at the beginning of a prayer attributed to Pope Gregory the Great. Image taken from f. 16v of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in La More

Zoomorphic initial 'D' at the beginning of a prayer attributed to Pope Gregory the Great. Image taken from f. 16v of Extracts from the Gospels and prayers ('The Book of Nunnaminster'). Written in Latin, with En More

Titulus in gold and silver on a purple background, beginning 'Hic HIS baptiza/tus est ab Iohan/ne', and relating to a lost miniature of the Baptism of Christ. Image taken from f. 30 of Gospels, imperfect (the ' More

Detail of a zoomorphic initial 'Z'(acgarias), at the beginning of the list of capitula of Luke. Image taken from f. 42 of Gospels, imperfect (the 'Royal Bible'). Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Colle More

Titulus in gold and silver on a purple background, beginning 'Haec est specio/sa quadriga luci/flua', relating to a lost miniature of the symbols of the Evangelists. Image taken from f. 1v of Gospels, imperfect More

Incipit page with a miniature of an ox, the symbol of Luke, with God the Father above, and an illuminated initial 'Q'(uoniam), at the beginning of Luke. Image taken from f. 43 of Gospels, imperfect (the 'Royal More

Titulus in gold and silver on a purple background, beginning 'Hic Gabriel an/gelus Zacharie / sacerdoti in / templo d[omi]ni ap/paruit', and relating to a lost miniature of the Annunciation to Zacharias. Image More

Decorated headpiece and initial. Image taken from f. 149 of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2 More

Detail of illuminated initial 'D'(eus in nomine tuo saluum me fac) at Psalm 53. Image taken from f. 64v of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff. 209- More

Zoomorphic initial with a siren. Image taken from f. 89 of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2n More

Decorated initial and border. Image taken from f. 47 of Prayer book. Written in Dutch. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), 1st Viscount Brackley, was a More

Zoomorphic initial with a siren. Image taken from f. 47v of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2 More

Detail of an illuminated initial 'D'(ixit dominus domino meo), with foliate and knotwork motifs, at Psalm 109. Image taken from f. 144 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican v More

Anthropomorphic initial with a man. Image taken from f. 30v of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, th More

Headpiece and decorated initial with a hand. Image taken from f. 64 of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Ho More

Illuminated initial 'D'(eus reppulisti nos) at Psalm 59. Image taken from f. 71 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff. 209-211) followed by prayers More

Decorated headpiece and initial, and marginal drawing. Image taken from f. 291v of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particular More

Detail of illuminated initial 'A'(d dominum cum tribularer), with foliate motifs, at Psalm 119. Image taken from f. 164 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a More

Headpiece and initial with a hand. Image taken from f. 2 of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2 More

Detail of a illuminated initial 'D'(ix[it] insipiens in corde suo) at Psalm 52. Image taken from f. 63v of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff. 209- More

Foliate and geometric headpiece enclosing the title, and anthropomorphic initial with legs and an arm at beginning of a reading from the Gospel of Luke. Image taken from f. 95 of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. W More

Detail of illuminated initial 'D'([omi]ne exaudi orationem meam), with beakhead, foliate, and knotwork motifs, at Psalm 101. Image taken from f. 125 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in More

Public domain reproduction of illuminated book page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description. St. Mark was a disciple of St. Peter and is believed to have accompanied him on his missi More

Detail of illuminated initial 'B'(enedictus), with foliate motifs, at Psalm 143. Image taken from f. 181 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff. 209 More

Illuminated initial 'D'(ixit dominus domino meo), with foliate and knotwork motifs, at Psalm 109. Image taken from f. 144 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with More

Decorated initial with a bird. Image taken from f. 22v of Gospel Lectionary, imperfect. Written in Greek. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, particularly Thomas Howard, the 2nd More

Illuminated initial 'B'(eatus vir qui non abiit) with a beast's head, and knotwork and foliate motifs, at the beginning of Psalm 1. Image taken from f. 4 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald') More

Detail of an illuminated initial 'B'(enedicite). Image taken from f. 203v of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff. 209-211) followed by prayers (ff. More

Illuminated initial 'A'(d dominum cum tribularer), with foliate motifs, at Psalm 119. Image taken from f. 164 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff More

Detail of illuminated initial 'B' (eati inmaculati) at Psalm 118. Image taken from f. 151v of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff. 209-211) followed More

Detail of illuminated initial 'B'(enedictus), with foliate motifs, at Psalm 143. Image taken from f. 181 of Psalter (the 'Ramsey Psalter' or 'Psalter of Oswald'), in the Gallican version, with a litany (ff. 209 More

Headpiece with geometric and foliate decoration and inscribed with title in display capitals, and illuminated initial 'T'. Image taken from f. 142 of Gospel lectionary with Menologion and Gospels for special se More

Headpiece with geometric and foliate decoration and inscribed with title in display capitals, and illuminated initial. Image taken from f. 56 of Gospel lectionary with Menologion and Gospels for special service More

Detail of a lower register miniature of Amnon and Tamar lying in bed. Image taken from f. 58 of Psalter ('The Queen Mary Psalter'). Written in Latin, with French image captions. The BL Royal Manuscript Collect More

Picryl description: Public domain image related to Hindu, Hinduism, India, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Decorated initial 'L' in red and green, in a 11th-century copy of Isidore's Etymology. Image taken from f. 38v of 2 leaves of the Etymology. Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and na More

Detail of coloured initial. Image taken from f. 182 of Psalter and prayers ('The Eadui Psalter', 'The Arundel Psalter'). Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amassed by the Howard family, pa More

Initials with penwork decoration, and a leaf from an 11th-century Sacramentary used as a flyleaf on the left. Image taken from f. 3v-4 of Cycle of Aimeri de Narbonne: 'Girart de Viane' by Bertrand de Bar-sur-Au More

Albrecht Dürer (German, Nuremberg 1471–1528 Nuremberg) Public domain scan of 17th-century woodcut print, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description Public domain photograph of 14th-cent More

Detail of a miniature of the Annuncation. Image taken from f. 7 of Book of Hours, Use of Rome. Written in Latin. The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to a More

Public domain photograph of 3d object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Coloured initial 'Q'(uare) at the beginning of Psalm 2. Image taken from f. 12v of Psalter and prayers ('The Eadui Psalter', 'The Arundel Psalter'). Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amas More

Historiated initial (dating, like the text, from the 1st half of the 11th century) and added drawing illustrating a Psalm (2nd quarter of the 12th century). Image taken from f. 29 of Added drawings. The "BL Ha More

Public domain photograph of 3d object, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Coloured initial 'C', with a cross in the upper margin. Image taken from f. 11 of Psalter and prayers ('The Eadui Psalter', 'The Arundel Psalter'). Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was amass More

Detail of a mminiature of Zoroaster with two demons, from Pseudo-Aristotle's Secreta secretorum. Image taken from f. 51 of Secreta secretorum (ff. 1-43); Il Tesoro (translation of Li Livres dou Tresor) (ff. 43v More

Life of the Prophet Muhammad written at the order of the Mamluk sultan al-Mansûr 'Alâ' al-Dîn 'Alî (d. 778/1376). The work was first illustrated during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Murâd III.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad written at the order of the Mamluk sultan al-Mansûr 'Alâ' al-Dîn 'Alî (d. 778/1376). The work was first illustrated during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Murâd III.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad written at the order of the Mamluk sultan al-Mansûr 'Alâ' al-Dîn 'Alî (d. 778/1376). The work was first illustrated during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Murâd III.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad written at the order of the Mamluk sultan al-Mansûr 'Alâ' al-Dîn 'Alî (d. 778/1376). The work was first illustrated during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Murâd III.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad written at the order of the Mamluk sultan al-Mansûr 'Alâ' al-Dîn 'Alî (d. 778/1376). The work was first illustrated during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Murâd III.

Public domain image of medieval and early renaissance painting, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, classical or archaic, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad written at the order of the Mamluk sultan al-Mansûr 'Alâ' al-Dîn 'Alî (d. 778/1376). The work was first illustrated during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Murâd III.

Life of the Prophet Muhammad written at the order of the Mamluk sultan al-Mansûr 'Alâ' al-Dîn 'Alî (d. 778/1376). The work was first illustrated during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Murâd III.

Picryl description: Public domain image related to Tibetan Buddhism, sculpture, monument, painting, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Detail of miniature of Nicholas. Image taken from f. 209 of Psalter (The 'Melisende Psalter') with canticles, prayers, and litany. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder More

Detail of a decorated initial 'F'(actum est autem) at the beginning of 2 Kings, Chapter 2 (4 Kings, Chapter 2). Image taken from f. 162 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Wr More

Decorated initial 'B'(eato). Image taken from f. 150v of Bible ('The Arnstein Bible') (Job to Revelation), including the Psalms in three versions in three columns, and diagrams, including of the monstrous races More

Detail of a decorated initial 'I'(acobus). Image taken from f. 206 of Bible ('The Arnstein Bible') (Job to Revelation), including the Psalms in three versions in three columns, and diagrams, including of the mo More

Detail of a decorated initial 'N'(emo) at the beginning of the prologue to Isaiah. Image taken from f. 175v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Har More

Decorated initial 'D'(iligiteius). Image taken from f. 69 of Bible ('The Arnstein Bible') (Job to Revelation), including the Psalms in three versions in three columns, and diagrams, including of the monstrous r More

Inhabited initial 'F'(actum) at the beginning of 2 Samuel (2 Kings). Image taken from f. 133v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript More

Detail of a decorated initial 'H'(ec) at the beginning of Deuteronomy. Image taken from f. 76v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscrip More

Detail of a decorated initial 'P'(aulus) with clasps at the beginning of Ephesians. Image taken from f. 225 of Bible ('The Arnstein Bible') (Job to Revelation), including the Psalms in three versions in three c More

Detail of a decorated initial 'C'. Image taken from f. 119v of Bible ('The Arnstein Bible') (Job to Revelation), including the Psalms in three versions in three columns, and diagrams, including of the monstrous More

Detail of a decorated initial 'O' with clasps, at the beginning of Amos. Image taken from f. 269 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscr More

Detail of a decorated initial at the beginning of the argumentum to Galatians. Image taken from f. 223v of Bible ('The Arnstein Bible') (Job to Revelation), including the Psalms in three versions in three colum More

Detail of miniature of Agnes. Image taken from f. 211 of Psalter (The 'Melisende Psalter') with canticles, prayers, and litany. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, S More