Medieval Miniatures

Detail of a miniature of the death of Harmonia, daughter of Gelon. Image taken from f. 106 of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French translation (index De claris mulieribus, Le More

Detail of a miniature of Hercules and Theseus fighting with Scythian princesses. Image taken from f. 181 of Le recoeil des histoires de Troyes (Le livre nomme Hercules). Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscr More

Detail of a miniature of the third plague, of lice. Image taken from f. 12v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Miniature of the city of Constantinople, with a large statue of Emperor Justinian standing before the cathedral of St Sophia. Image taken from f. 9v of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'out More

Detail of a miniature of Tristan battling fourteen knights of the Round Table. Image taken from f. 74 of Tristan en prose with interpolations of Lancelot en prose (ff. 141-151). Written in French.

Full-page miniature of the city of Troy with a ship. Image taken from f. 30v of Histoire ancienne jusqu'à César. Written in French.

Detail of miniature. Image taken from f. 84 of History of Alexander the Great (Les faize d'Alexandre) (index De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni; Historia Alexandri Magni). Written in French.

Miniature of emperor Heraclius carrying the True Cross, at a gate of Jerusalem, with a full border containing the royal arms of England on a banner and on a shield surmounted by a crowned helm and encircled by More

Full-page miniature, upper register: the plague of locusts, lower register: the plague of darkness. Image taken from f. 15v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Full-page miniature of Moses reproaching two quarelling Israelites (Ex. 2:13-14), in an architectural frame. Image taken from f. 66 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Miniature of the council of war before the attack on Antioch, with a partial border. Image taken from f. 91 of Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum, in French, with continuation to 1231. Written in French.

Loth and his daughters escaping from Sodom, detail of a miniature depicting scenes from Genesis. Image taken from f. 4v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Miniature of a plant. Image taken from f. 166 of Translation of the herbal (The 'Carrara Herbal'), including the Liber agrega, Herbolario volgare; De medicamentis, with index (ff. 263-265). Written in Italian. More

Miniature of Merlin showing Uther the empty seat at the dinner table. Image taken from f. 91 of L'estoire del Saint Graal (ff. 1-76); L'estoire de Merlin (ff. 76-216). Written in French.

Detail of a miniature of the author writing his book. Image taken from f. 133 of Roman de la Rose (index Romance of the Rose). Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval m More

Detail of a miniature of a chessboard. Image taken from f. 44 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 translat More

Detail of a miniature of Dante breaking a branch from one of the trees in the wood of the suicide, which shouts in pain and bleeds, Dante and Virgil conversing with the wounded tree, Piero delle Vigne, and watc More

Miniature of the arrested Christ being brought before an enthroned Herod, in Matfré Ermengau of Béziers's Breviari d'Amour. Image taken from f. 237 of Breviari d'Amor (Catalan prose version). Written in Spanish More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of Christ on shore, calling Peter and Andrew in a boat. Image taken from f. 136v of Les omelies Saint Grégoire pape. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as t More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of king Arthur taking a letter from two Roman emissaries. Image taken from f. 217 of The Fall of Princes (index De casibus virorum et feminarum illustrium), abridged. Written in English. More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of Matthew's symbol of a winged man holding a book. Image taken from f. 13 of Four Gospels, with liturgical directions, tables, apparatus, lections, and, at the end, Synaxarion and Menologion, imperfe More

Miniature showing Reason speaking with the Lover. Image taken from f. 32 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), 1s More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of Vasca da Lucena offering the book to Charles the Bold, with a full foliate border including hybrid grotesques. Image taken from f. 14 of Historia Alexandri (Quinte Curse Ruffe des faiz du grant Ale More

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 More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of Cain killing Abel; God looks on from the heavens. Image taken from f. 10 of Bible historiale (vol. 1). Written in French, with some Latin for frontispiece. Cain and Abel - the first tw More

Miniature of the Last Judgment. Image taken from f. 69v of Book of Hours, unidentified use. Written in Dutch. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Libra More

Detail of a miniature of the burial of Hector. Image taken from f. 58 of Historia destructionis Troiae in a French translation. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Co More

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 More

Miniature of a woman gathering grapes while a man stands in a wine cask, representing September; miniature of a man sowing seed, representing October, in Matfré Ermengau of Béziers's Breviari d'Amour. Image tak More

Detail of a miniature of an ape being advised by the raven not to climb a mast, and by the fox not to sit on a throne; he does both, and, at the bottom, is punished by wild dogs attacking, at the beginning of C More

Miniature of Oedipus with his raised sword as Layus lies at his feet. Image taken from f. 45 of The Fall of Princes (index De casibus virorum et feminarum illustrium), abridged. Written in English. The "BL Har More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of the remains of King Cyrus floating in tub of water. Image taken from f. 135 of The Fall of Princes (index De casibus virorum et feminarum illustrium), abridged. Written in English. The More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of a Swan (Olor), with a fish in its beak. Image taken from f. 41v of Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collect More

Detail of a miniature of the astrological sign Taurus. Image taken from f. 29 of Breviari d'amor. Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the Britis More

Miniature of God creating the animals. Image taken from f. 2 of Psalter ('The Queen Mary Psalter'). Written in Latin, with French image captions. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Col More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of the Battle of Hastings. Image taken from f. 155v of Grande Chronique de Normandie. Written in French. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropist who as More

Detail of a miniature of Dante and Beatrice before Dante's vision of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 190 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a Bri More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Famed miniature of Beatrice and Dante before the eagle formed by twenty-four human heads in the heaven of Jupiter. Image taken from f. 160 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso More

Miniature of Dante encountering Casella and Cato. Image taken from f. 68 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropis More

Miniature of the Grand Duke Dmitri ordering his captains to ride out into the fields of Kolomna with drums, horns, and trumpets. Image taken from f. 20 of Skazanie o Mamaevom Poboishche (the Tale of the Rout of More

Miniature of king David playing bells, in the Psalter. Image taken from f. 105 of Psalter. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of British mus More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of the Duke of Gloucester receiving Richard II at the Castle of Pleshy, with a full foliate border including a bird, flowers, and a naked, helmeted man riding a hobby-horse and carrying a banner. Imag More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of a bust of Henry VIII. Image taken from f. 8 of Guild Book of the Barber Surgeons of York, including its ordinances. Written in English and Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after i More

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 More

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 More

Miniature showing the Diex d'Amours with the Lover. Image taken from f. 16v of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), More

Miniature of Virgil holding Dante's eyes to prevent him seeing the Gorgon pass, and Virgil and Dante entering the city of Dis, in illustration of Canto IX. Image taken from f. 16 of Divina Commedia (index Divin More

Miniature of Dante being shown the Florentine towns. Image taken from f. 157 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthr More

Miniature of Matthew, with his name in red above. Image taken from f. 10v of . The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), 1st Viscount Brackley, was a lawyer, More

Detail of a miniature of Pygmalion on his knees, asking forgiveness from the statue. Image taken from f. 178v of Roman de la Rose (index Romance of the Rose). Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refe More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of Pompeius' dream. Image taken from f. 305v of Les anciennes hystoires rommaines (A compilation of ancient history in two parts, each preceded by a table of contents: Part 1, l'Histoire a More

Miniature showing the Diex d'Amours taking the Lover prisoner and demanding fidelity. Image taken from f. 15 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder More

Detail of a miniature of King Alphasein in his bed. Image taken from f. 87 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known a More

Miniature of messengers asking for news of Nasciens' whereabouts at a castle. Image taken from f. 58v of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscri More

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 More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of a ship crowded with armed men; the flags at the masthead and at the prow and stern, as well as two of the shields, bear the arms of La Sale; the arms of Béthencourt do not appear, but t More

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 More

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. More

Miniature of Dante and Beatrice before Justinian, who recounts the history of the Roman Empire. Image taken from f. 139 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838- More

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 More

Miniature of the Christian forces overcoming the pagan forces in battle. Image taken from f. 45v of Skazanie o Mamaevom Poboishche (the Tale of the Rout of Mamai). Written in Russian Church Slavonic. Henry Yat More

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 More

Detail of miniature of various ailments, in the upper two registers. Image taken from f. 51 of Circa instans (index Herbal). Written in French. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who pl More

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 More

Miniature of an armoured Sir Bors meeting a holy man who is riding an ass. Image taken from f. 118 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript More