Medieval Miniatures

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

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 Royal Manuscript More

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 More

Detail of miniature showing the Lover, dressed as a pilgrim, setting off on his pilgrimage. Image taken from f. 145 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of the Greek army with Xenophon, and piles of the dead, with grotesque hybrids, flowers, and plants in the full foliate border. Image taken from f. 83 of Anabasis. Written in French. The BL Royal Man More

Miniature of John. Image taken from f. 202v of Book of Hours, unidentified use. Written in Dutch. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library in London More

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 More

Miniature of Galahad withdrawing a sword from a floating marble block, while a mounted young woman arrives to question Lancelot. Image taken from f. 91 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Mor More

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, More

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. More

Detail of a miniature of Galahad on horseback, having taken a wrong path in the forest, coming upon Symens in fiery torment in a ditch. Image taken from f. 85 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Gra More

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 More

Excised miniature with a foliate border. Image taken from f. 3v of Siege of Troy (the Troy Book). Written in English. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists of over 2, More

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 More

Miniature of a standing saint holding a staff. Image taken from f. 23 of Prayers to the Saints. Written in German. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617), More

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 More

Miniature showing Honte defending Bel-acueil to Jalousie. Image taken from f. 27v of Roman de la Rose. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540- More

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 More

Miniature of a devil covering a Jew's eyes with a blindfold, while another tries to cover his ears, representing the blindness of the Jews to the Christian fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy ; miniature of J More

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 More

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 More

Detail of miniature of Isboseth, the son of Saul, being murdered by two of his servants. Image taken from f. 150v of Bible historiale (vol. 1). Written in French, with some Latin for frontispiece. The "BL Harl More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Public domain scan of manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the British Library in Lon More

Miniature of Cyrrus enthroned and Chrysanthes addressing the Persians, with a partial border containing the Yorkist badge. Image taken from f. 169 of Cyropaedia (Cyropédie). Written in French. The BL Royal Man More

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 More

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 ( More

Detail of a miniature of MacMorogh, the Irish chieftian, coming to confer with the Earl of Gloucester. Image taken from f. 9 of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of prophets. Image taken from f. 71 of Bible historiale (vol. 1). Written in French, with some Latin for frontispiece. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manusc More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Miniature with William of Assisi and his son being hanged in Florence. Image taken from f. 255 of The Fall of Princes (index De casibus virorum et feminarum illustrium), abridged. Written in English. The "BL H More

Miniature of Dante and Virgil with the Envious and their cloaks. Image taken from f. 88 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector an More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of the Annunciation. Image taken from f. 17v of Book of Hours, unidentified use. Written in Dutch. The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to annou More

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 More

Miniature of a spear shaft, and Mounts Olyumpus and Athos. Image taken from f. 10v of Travels (index Itinerarium, Voyage d'outre mer) in Middle English. Written in English. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, More

Detail of a miniature of the meeting between Bolingbroke and the Dukes. Image taken from f. 30v of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (index Histoire rimée de R More

Detail of a miniature of a phoenix burning, illustrating the text that when it felt that it was growing old, it would make its own funeral pyre, and allow itself to be consumed in the flames, which it fanned wi More

Detail of a miniature of a scribe demonstrating to his pupils. Image taken from f. 209 of De proprietatibus rerum (Livre des proprietez des choses). Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also More

Detail of miniature of angels with musical instruments. Image taken from f. 31 of The Pilgrimage of the Soul, translated from the French of Guillaume de Deguileville. Written in English. The Egerton Manuscript More

Miniature. Image taken from f. 8v of Life of Eustace and other saints, and a collection of moral treatises. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton ( More

Detail of a miniature of the dance of the Wodewoses. Image taken from f. 1 of Chroniques, Vol. IV, part 2. Written in French. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in t More

Framed miniature of Dante and Virgil looking at the giants, Nimrod and Ephialtes. Image taken from f. 55v of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin commentary; More

Detail of a miniature of Dante witnessing the death of Cacciaguida. Image taken from f. 156 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian. Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collecto More

Miniature of a grape vine with grapes. Image taken from f. 29 of Translation of the herbal (The 'Carrara Herbal'), including the Liber agrega, Herbolario volgare; De medicamentis, with index (ff. 263-265). Writ More

Detail of a miniature of Sir Galahad casting out a fiend from a tomb in the abbey. Image taken from f. 95 of Estoire del Saint Graal, La Queste del Saint Graal, Morte Artu. Written in French. The BL Royal Manu More

Miniature, prefacing Book II, arranged in three registers: 'Octovien' (Augustus) holding court; Fulvius Flaccus at the siege of Capua; the capture of Capua. Arms of Philippe de Comines (quartered with that of More

Miniature of Dante and Beatrice, on the left, and Bonaventure, on the right, hovering over the Twelve Doctors of the Church (Paradiso XII). Image taken from f. 151 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Writ More

Detail of a miniature showing Abstinence Contrainte (Forced Abstinence) and Faux Semblant (False Seeming) killing Malebouche (Evil Tongue), and cutting his tongue. Image taken from f. 111 of Roman de la Rose (i More

Detail of a miniature of the battle with Juba. Image taken from f. 225 of Les fait des Romains. Written in French. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the Royal Collection, consists of over 2,000 More

Detail of a miniature of John at the beginning of his gospel. Image taken from f. 232v of Gospels. Written in Greek. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts held in the Britis More

Detail of a miniature of Dante talking to the indolent including the Florentine, Belacqua Image taken from f. 69v of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin comm More

Detail of a miniature of Richard II knighting Henry of Monmouth in Ireland. Image taken from f. 5 of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (index Histoire rimée de More

Miniature of a bust of Queen Mary. Image taken from f. 10 of Guild Book of the Barber Surgeons of York, including its ordinances. Written in English and Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after More

Miniature of nuns in various activities, personifying various traits described in the treatise The Abbey of the Holy Ghost. Image taken from f. 9 of The Abbey of the Holy Ghost (ff. 4-10); Vado mori; Desert of More

Detail of a miniature of the Lover at a fountain. Image taken from f. 13 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French.

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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. More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Miniature of a lady Jeunesse presenting the author to lord Bel Accueil and lady Plaisance and their court, with a full border with two mottos, 'La plus eure' and 'Dieu et mon droit', the arms of Edward the Conf More

Detail of a miniature of Pharaoh ordering the midwives, and the casting of the male children into the Nile. Image taken from f. 8v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Golden Haggadah''). Written in Hebrew.

Miniature of Gawain in a green robe seated before master Blaise, who is holding a knife and quill, writing down his adventures as he is telling them. Image taken from f. 137 of L'estoire del Saint Graal (ff. 1- More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

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 More

Detail of a miniature of Julian the Apostate crowned by flying devils. Image taken from f. 200 of The Fall of Princes (index De casibus virorum et feminarum illustrium), abridged. Written in English. The "BL H More