Medieval Religious Manuscripts

Illuminated manuscripts illustrating biblical events, ornate designs, and rich colors reflecting historical artistry.

The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (Manuscript illumination from the Matenadaran Gospel) by Master of Codex Matenadaran (13th century)/ Matenadaran Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Yerevan/ 1211/ Armenia/ Watercolour on parchment/ Medieval art/

The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem (Manuscript illumination from the Matenadaran Gospel) by Master of Codex Matenadaran (13th century)/ Matenadaran Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts, Yerevan/ 1211/ Armenia/ Watercolour on parchment/ Medieval art/

COMENTARIOS AL APOCALIPSIS-FOLIO 92 V, VISION DEL CORDERO SOBRE EL MONTE SION. Author: BEATO DE LIEBANA. Location: CATEDRAL-BIBLIOTECA. BURGO DE OSMA. Soria. SPAIN.

Russian Slavonic, Orthodox Christian miniature illustrating the Apocalypse of St John. Circa 1750

Escorial Beatus. 10th century. Mozarabic. Based on the Commentary of the Apocalypse by Beatus of Liebana. Illuminated page. Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Spain.

The Creation of the World.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand; Jesus Walking on the Water. Unknown

Christ Washing the Apostles' Feet; Lake Van, Turkey; 1386; Black ink and watercolors on paper bound between wood boards covered with dark brown kidskin; Leaf: 24 x 16.5 cm (9 7,16 x 6 1,2 in.)

Christ Washing the Apostles' Feet; Unknown; Turkey, Lake Van, Asia; 1386; Black ink and watercolors on paper bound between wood boards covered with dark brown kidskin; Leaf: 24 x 16.5 cm (9 7/16 x 6 1/2 in.)

13th century, Armenian Evangelical manuscript, The visit of the three kings to the birth of Christ

14th century, Armenian Evangelical manuscript, the resurrection of Lazarus

BEATO DE SAN SALVADOR DE TABARA, TEOFANIA Y MENSAJE A JUAN, 975- COMENTARIOS AL APOCALIPSIS-MOZARABE. Author: BEATO DE LIEBANA. Location: CATEDRAL-ARCHIVO CAPITULAR. GERONA. SPAIN. JESUS. SAN JUAN EVANGELISTA Y APOSTOL.

The Annunciation After a design by Federico Barocci Italian ca. 1600 Embroidered on this small panel is a representation of the Christian story of the Annunciation: as recounted in the Bibles Gospel according to Luke, 1: 26-38, the Archangel Gabriel (kneeling on the right of the scene) visits the Virgin Mary (to the left), to give her the news that she will miraculously conceive a son via the Holy Spirit (who is present both as God the Father in the upper right corner, and as the Dove of God, flying in a glory towards the Virgin). Mary looks up, gesturing in surprise, as if disturbed during her devotions, a book in hand. As was conventional for representations of the Annunciation designed around this time, Mary is at home in a well-appointed domestic interior. Behind her is a canopied bed, curtains neatly bundled away, whilst sweeping draperies frame a window, its view obscured by the apparition of the Dove of God. A green and white tiled floor contributes to the illusion of spatial re

Saint Stanisław Bishop, patron of Poland unknown

Christianity in Ethiopia dates to the 1st century AD, and this long tradition makes Ethiopia unique amongst sub-Saharan African countries. Christianity in this country is divided into several groups. The largest and oldest is the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church which is an Oriental Orthodox church in Ethiopia that was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, when it was granted its own Patriarch by Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa Cyril VI. The only pre-colonial Christian church of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Ethiopian Orthodox church has a membership of slightly more than 32 million people in Ethiopia, and is thus the largest of all Oriental Orthodox churches. Next in size are the various Protestant congregations, who include 13.7 million Ethiopians. The largest Protestant group is the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, with about 5 million members. Roman Catholicism has been present in Ethiopia since the 16th century, and numbers 536,827 bel

The Abbot of Montecassino offering codes and possessions to Saint Benedict, miniature from Vatican Latin Code 1202 folio 2 recto, Italy 6th Century.

German 15th Century, The Adoration of the Magi, c 1485 The Adoration of the Magi

LIBRO DE JUEGOS O LIBRO DEL AJEDREZ DADOS Y TABLAS - 1283 - FOLIO 71V - CRISTIANOS Y JUDIOS JUEGAN EN UN HUERTO A LOS DADOS - MANUSCRI. Author: ALFONSO X EL SABIO (1221-1284). Location: MONASTERIO-BIBLIOTECA-COLECCION. SAN LORENZO DEL ESCORIAL. MADRID. SPAIN.

St. Eusebius. From Epistle of Eusebius to Carpianus.13th century Armeniasn manuscript.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand, Jesus Walking on the Water; Unknown; Turkey, Lake Van, Asia; 1386; Black ink and watercolors on paper bound between wood boards covered with dark brown kidskin; Leaf: 24 x 16.5 cm (9 7/16 x 6 1/2 in.)

The Beatus of Leon is an 11th century illuminated manuscript of the Commentary on the Apocalypse by Beatus of Liebana. The manuscript was made for King Ferdinand 1 (c.1015-1065) and Queen Sancha of Leon. It contains 98 miniatures painted by Facundus. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament.

The convent library, miniature from De universo by Rabano Mauro, manuscript, 1023 Italy.

Apostole, Tempera and gold on parchment, before 1117, Russia, Moscow, State History Museum, 35, 3x28, 6

Turks kiss the foot of Suleyman, 16th century, ms 1517 p 189A Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

Bede's Life of St Cuthbert with animals and birds, 12th cent. Anglo Saxon ENGLAND.

The Ashburnham Pentateuch or Tours Pentateuch. Late 6th -early 7th century Latin Illuminated manuscript of the Pentateuch, the first five book of the Old Testament. Construction of a city. National Library of France. Paris.

King Mangkur Nourished by Queen Devika, from a Set of Initiation Cards (Tsakali). Southern Tibet. Date: 1301-1500. Dimensions: 16 x 14.5 cm (6 1/4 x 5 3/4 in.). Ink and watercolor on paper. Origin: Tibet. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

A painting on paper in color and gold leaf from al-Jazari's ' Kitab fi marifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya' (The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices). Abu al-'Iz Ibn Isma'il ibn al-Razaz al-Jazari (1136-1206) was a polymath: a scholar, inventor, mechanical engineer, craftsman, artist, mathematician and astronomer from Al-Jazira, Mesopotamia, who worked in service of the Artuqid dynasty in Diyarbakir, Asia Minor. He is best known for writing the Kitáb fí ma'rifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya (Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices) in 1206, where he described fifty mechanical devices along with instructions on how to construct them.

Monks praying in a church, miniature from a Byzantine manuscript, Greek code 418 folio 269, 12th Century.

COMENTARIOS AL APOCALIPSIS - BEATO DEL ESCORIAL - SIGLO X. Author: BEATO DE LIEBANA (730-798). Location: MONASTERIO-BIBLIOTECA-COLECCION. SAN LORENZO DEL ESCORIAL. MADRID. SPAIN.

German 15th Century, Christ Child in the Sacred Heart, 1450 1470 Christ Child in the Sacred Heart

Adam and Eve in Paradise and the 13 twins, miniature from The tales of Luqman, Arabic manuscript, 1583.

Canon Table Page. Unknown

The Nativity with the Adoration of the Shepherds and Magi. Mesrop of Khizan (Armenian, active 1605 - 1651)

The Sacrifice of Isaac and The Annunciation; Lake Van, Turkey; 1386; Black ink and watercolors on paper bound between wood boards covered with dark brown kidskin; Leaf: 24 x 16.5 cm (9 7,16 x 6 1,2 in.)

Saint Mark. Unknown

The Antichrist by Vasily Koren, Ukrainian, Russian artist of religious prints and woodcuts. 1668

Beato de Liébana, Códice de Gerona V17bis. Museum: CATEDRAL GIRONA ESPAÑA.

COMENTARIOS AL APOCALIPSIS AÑO 1047 - SIGLO XI - F-205 R- VIT. 14-2, VISION DEL CORDERO SOBRE EL MONTE SION, PROCEDE DE SAN ISIDORO DE LEON. Author: BEATO DE LIEBANA. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN.

The vision of Habakkuk, miniature from a Byzantine manuscript, Greek code 339 folio 9 verso.

Altar of St. Peter Martyr by Anonymous. Dated 10th Century

fine arts, religious art, biblical scenes, the annunciation, painting, Dalecarlian rustic painting, by Back Erik Andersson (1778 - 1847), 19th century, Dalarnas museum, Falun, Europe, Sweden, Dalarna, religion, christianity, popular art, Saint Mary, angel,

The Shahnameh or Shah-nama ('The Book of Kings') is a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between c.977 and 1010 CE and is the national epic of Iran and related Perso-Iranian cultures. Consisting of some 60,000 verses, the Shahnameh tells the mythical and to some extent the historical past of Greater Iran from the creation of the world until the Islamic conquest of Persia in the 7th century. The work is of central importance in Persian culture, regarded as a literary masterpiece, and definitive of ethno-national cultural identity of Iran. It is also important to the contemporary adherents of Zoroastrianism, in that it traces the historical links between the beginnings of the religion with the death of the last Zoroastrian ruler of Persia during the Muslim conquest.

Josaphat in Prayer is Tempted by the Devil But Protected by an Angel; Follower of Hans Schilling (German, active 1459 - 1467), from the Workshop of Diebold Lauber (German, active 1427 - 1467); Hagenau, Alsace, France (formerly Germany); 1469; Ink, colored washes, and tempera colors on paper; Leaf: 28.6 x 20.3 cm (11 1,4 x 8 in.)

HªMATRIT-MIGUEL III COMPROMETE SU AMANTE EUDOKIA CON BASIL:ALARMADOS PADRE D ELLA Y BARDAS,TIO EMP. Author: SKYLITZES JOHN O SCYLITZA IOANNES. Location: BIBLIOTECA NACIONAL-COLECCION. MADRID. SPAIN.

The Descent into Limbo.

Leaf from a Volume of Johannes Andrea's "Lectura super arboris consanguinitatis et affinitatis: Table of Affinity, c. 1331. Master of the Register of 1328 (Italian). Ink, tempera and gold on vellum; sheet: 24.5 x 17.1 cm (9 5/8 x 6 3/4 in.). The two leaves shown here come from Iohannes Andrea's widely circulated treatise on marriage impediments. The writer lived until 1348 and is known as the most learned of the lay canonists of the Middle Ages. He taught for nearly fifty years at the University of Bologna, where his lectures on both canon and Roman law made him famous.

HAFEZ-E SHIRAZI, Khwajeh Shams al-Din Muhammad (1325-1389). Persian lyrical and panegyrist poet. Depiction of 'The Magic Carpet', illustrating a poem by this artist. Persian art. Safavid period. Miniature Painting. SYRIA. Damascus. National Museum.

"Preparing Medicine from Honey", from a Dispersed Manuscript of an Arabic Translation of De Materia Medica of Dioscorides dated A.H. 621/ A.D. 1224 'Abdullah ibn al-Fadl One of the most influential medical treatises handed down to Muslims was De Materia Medica, by a first-century B.C. Greek physician in Cilicia (southern Anatolia). The left page concerns making medicine from honey and water, prescribed to cure weakness and loss of appetite. A doctor holds a gold cup while stirring the boiling honey and water in a cauldron as he prepares to scoop it up for the seated patient. The architectural setting suggests that the drugs are being produced in a pharmacy like those attached to hospitals in the Seljuq lands. In the illustration on the right, a doctor and his assistant or patient stand on either side of a sieve through which grapes are pressed and then combined with brine and an onion-like herb to produce a medicine to cure digestive disorders.. "Preparing Medicine from Honey", from a

Christ Child in the Sacred Heart. Dated: 1450/1470. Medium: woodcut in warm black, hand-colored in red lake, blue, green, yellow, and gold. Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Author: German 15th Century.

Haggadah. The Hebrews leave Egypt (top) and Egyptians persue Hebrews. 14th cent. manuscript.

BIBLIA VELISLAVOVA - LA PRUEBA DE ABRAHAM - EL SACRIFICIO DE ISAAC - GENESIS XXII - MANUSCRITO SIGLO XIV. Location: BIBLIOTECA CLEMENTINA. PRAG. CZECH REPUBLIC.

Yahya ibn Mahmod al-Wasiti was a 13th-century Arab Islamic artist. Al-Wasiti was born in Wasit in southern Iraq. He was noted for his illustrations of the Maqam of al-Hariri. Maqama (literally 'assemblies') are an (originally) Arabic literary genre of rhymed prose with intervals of poetry in which rhetorical extravagance is conspicuous. The 10th century author Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadhani is said to have invented the form, which was extended by al-Hariri of Basra in the next century. Both authors' maqamat center on trickster figures whose wanderings and exploits in speaking to assemblies of the powerful are conveyed by a narrator. Manuscripts of al-Hariri's Maqamat, anecdotes of a roguish wanderer Abu Zayd from Saruj, were frequently illustrated with miniatures.

Image from a Set of Initiation Cards (Tsakali) 1301-1500 Tibet. Ink and watercolor on paper .

A painting on paper in color and gold leaf from al-Jazari's ' Kitab fi marifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya' (The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices). The various elements that comprise this water-powered clock move and make a sound every half hour. Abu al-'Iz Ibn Isma'il ibn al-Razaz al-Jazari (1136-1206) was a polymath: a scholar, inventor, mechanical engineer, craftsman, artist, mathematician and astronomer from Al-Jazira, Mesopotamia, who worked in service of the Artuqid dynasty in Diyarbakir, Asia Minor. He is best known for writing the Kitáb fí ma'rifat al-hiyal al-handasiyya (Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices) in 1206, where he described fifty mechanical devices along with instructions on how to construct them.

Saint Bonaventure Arriving and Preaching in Lyon. Dated: 1480-1490. Medium: woodcut, hand-colored in vermilion, orange-rose, light and dark gray-blue, and lavender. Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Author: French 15th Century.

Seeing the doctor, miniature from the Book of Kalila and Dimeco, Arabic manuscript.

Chinese day of sacrifice in Batavia. Draughtsman: Jan Brandes. Dating: 23-Jan-1779 - 26-Aug-1785. Place: Jakarta. Measurements: h 195 mm × w 155 mm. Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

Portrait of Saint John. Book of Kells, 6th century manuscript of the Four Gospels

Life of Saint Nicholas. Date/Period: End of 13th century. Painting. Fresco transferred to canvas. Height: 4,560 mm (14.96 ft); Width: 3,065 mm (10.05 ft). Author: Second Master of Bierge.

Kartiny iz Biblii i Apokalipsisa, raboty mastera Korenia.. Rovinski, D. A. (Dmitri Aleksandrovich), 1824-1895. Prints. 1881. Rare Book Division. Folk art , Russia (Federation), Russia , Social life and customs, Engraving, Russian

Maqama (literally 'assemblies') are an (originally) Arabic literary genre of rhymed prose with intervals of poetry in which rhetorical extravagance is conspicuous. The 10th century author Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadhani is said to have invented the form, which was extended by al-Hariri of Basra in the next century. Both authors' maqamat center on trickster figures whose wanderings and exploits in speaking to assemblies of the powerful are conveyed by a narrator. Manuscripts of al-Hariri's Maqamat, anecdotes of a roguish wanderer Abu Zayd from Saruj, were frequently illustrated with miniatures.

A-PENTATEUCO DE ASHBURNAM O DE TOURS-S VI/VII-HACIENDO LADRILLOS DE ADOBE PARA LA CIUDAD. Location: NATIONAL LIBRARY. France. SAN JERONIMO (347-420).

Workshop of Master of the Aachen Madonna, Christ Crowned with Thorns, 1470 1480 Christ Crowned with Thorns

Healing of paralytic, tempera on wood, State Russian Museum, St Petersburg

Armenian Christian illustrated manuscript showing Christ at the Feast of Cana. 14th century

Gospel Book.

Scene in a library ms Arabe 5847, Al Harit finds Abu Zayd in a library in Basra, Al-Hariris Maqamat late 13th century Bibliotheque Nationale Paris

Russian Slavonic, Orthodox Christian miniature illustrating the Apocalypse of St John. Circa 1750

Trisala Verdend, Anonymous, 1510 - 1539 Indian miniature. drawing Two strips with images of Trisala, the mother of Mahavira, one sad and the second pleased; Presentation on the right and left on the strip and the calligraphy text next to it; In the margins and between the text a diamond -shaped ornament. Both performances glued on strips of paper and damage sometimes covered, texts partially in holes and also seriously damaged performances. The text, in Prakrit, is a fragment from the second book of the Kalpasutra (end Chapter 93 and beginning Chapter 94). Gujarat paper brush

Invasion of Bulgaria by the Emperor Nicephorus I in 811, and his capture by the Bulgarians. Miniature, folio 145r, Chronicle of Constantine Manasses, 1344-1345. Vatican Apostolic Library.

ANTIFONARIO MOZARABE SIGLO XI - BAUTISMO DE JESUS. Location: CATEDRAL-ARCHIVO. LEON. SPAIN.

Religious illustration by Anonymous artist, Facsimile, 18th century, Private Collection

Armenian Christian illustrated manuscript showing the court of King Herod, 14th century

Automation device for pouring water, miniature from the Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices by Al-Jazari, 1203, Turkey.

Yahya ibn Mahmod al-Wasiti was a 13th-century Arab Islamic artist. Al-Wasiti was born in Wasit in southern Iraq. He was noted for his illustrations of the Maqam of al-Hariri. Maqama (literally 'assemblies') are an (originally) Arabic literary genre of rhymed prose with intervals of poetry in which rhetorical extravagance is conspicuous. The 10th century author Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadhani is said to have invented the form, which was extended by al-Hariri of Basra in the next century. Both authors' maqamat center on trickster figures whose wanderings and exploits in speaking to assemblies of the powerful are conveyed by a narrator. Manuscripts of al-Hariri's Maqamat, anecdotes of a roguish wanderer Abu Zayd from Saruj, were frequently illustrated with miniatures.

Iran/Mongolia: Hulagu Khan enthroned, from Rashid Al-Din, 'History of the World', c. 1306-1311 CE

The Virgin of Mariazell protecting travellers. Mixed method.

Yahya ibn Mahmod al-Wasiti was a 13th-century Arab Islamic artist. Al-Wasiti was born in Wasit in southern Iraq. He was noted for his illustrations of the Maqam of al-Hariri. Maqama (literally 'assemblies') are an (originally) Arabic literary genre of rhymed prose with intervals of poetry in which rhetorical extravagance is conspicuous. The 10th century author Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadhani is said to have invented the form, which was extended by al-Hariri of Basra in the next century. Both authors' maqamat center on trickster figures whose wanderings and exploits in speaking to assemblies of the powerful are conveyed by a narrator. Manuscripts of al-Hariri's Maqamat, anecdotes of a roguish wanderer Abu Zayd from Saruj, were frequently illustrated with miniatures.

Bound Manuscript: The Miracles of Mary (Te'amire Maryam). Gondar, Ethiopia; Eastern and Southern Africa. Date: 1667-1706. Dimensions: 36.8 × 31.8 × 9.5 cm (14 1/2 × 12 1/2 × 3 3/4 in.). Parchment, ink, tempera, wood, leather, cotton, and string. Origin: Gonder. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

Medieval History. Jewish community. On his first day of class Jewish children ate cookies for them to know that learning was sweet. They had to be able to read the Holy Scriptures themselves. Miniature. Jewish Museum Berlin. Germany.

GUIDO D'AREZZO AND HIS DISCIPLE THE BISHOP TEOBALDO -GERMAN CODEX, 12th CENTURY. GUIDO VON AREZZO. AREZZO GUIDO D'. TEOBALDO. TEOBALDO OBISPO.

St. Basil the Great (c.329-379)Bishop of Caesarea from 370. Armenian manuscript of 1286

King David strumming a lyre. s.XV. Miniature Painting. FRANCE. LE-DE-FRANCE. Paris. National Library. Proc: ETHIOPIA.

The Divine Comedy. s.XIV. Dante, Virgil and Cato. Boat with an angel and six souls. Gothic art. Miniature Painting. SPAIN. MADRID (AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY). Madrid. National Library.

Gilded copper plaques with Old and New Testament imagery. Dated 12th Century

Tacuinum Sanitatis. 14th century. Medieval handbook of health. Establishment. Selling millet bread. Miniature. Fol. 64v.

14th century, Armenian Evangelical manuscript, The Virgin Mary and infant Jesus

The Vatopedi monastery, Greece , 1918 - Greece - Fernand Cuville - (September) (French - Le monastère de Vatopedi , Grèce). Christianity, calligraphy, monastery, drawing, Religion , Art

COMENTARIOS AL APOCALIPSIS, VISION DEL CORDERO SOBRE EL MONTE SION. Author: BEATO DE LIEBANA. Location: CATEDRAL-BIBLIOTECA. BURGO DE OSMA. Soria. SPAIN.

Saint Nicetas Vanquishing Satan (Detail), Russian icon

Christ and Lamb in heaven; Fourth seal, the pale horse, fol. 21r. 1325 - 1350. Manuscripts, Miniatures (illuminations). Spencer Collection. Horses , Religious aspects , Christianity

Christ in Majesty Surrounded by the Symbols of the Four Evangelists. Unknown

CODICE EMILIANENSE - MOZARABE - FOL 73V - SIGLO X. Location: MONASTERIO-BIBLIOTECA-COLECCION. SAN LORENZO DEL ESCORIAL. MADRID. SPAIN.

The Scribe Petros and his Pupils; Lake Van, Turkey; 1386; Black ink and watercolors on paper bound between wood boards covered with dark brown kidskin; Leaf: 24 x 16.5 cm (9 7,16 x 6 1,2 in.)

Russian Slavonic, Orthodox Christian miniature illustrating the Apocalypse of St John. Circa 1750

Flight of Loth and the destruction of Sodom, miniature from Genesis of Vienna, manuscript 6th Century.

Detail of the murals of the Sang Thong Tales, painted in the late 19th century, Viharn Laikam at Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia,...

Christ sitting on the cross, Anonymous, 1490 - 1510 print Christ, used to the right, sits on the cross that lies on the ground. He has hit the crown of thorns and over each other. The whole is surrounded by a wide edge list, composed of the passion tools. Leiden paper whole figure, sitting or standing of the Man of Sorrows. 'Arma Christi'

Ikona: Matka Boska - Źródło Życia. nieznany warsztat grecki, workshop

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