Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Apocalypse
England and France, London, between 1255 and 1260
MS M.524 fol. 11r

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1) Apocalypse: Beast and Dragon, Worship -- Among group of eight men, two wear hats; some genuflect. One holds scroll, inscribed ET ADORAUERUNT BESTIAM DICENTES QUIS SIMILIS BESTIE ET QUIS POT(ER)IT PUGNARE CUM EA from Revelation 13:4. Another kneels with hands raised. All worship spotted lion-headed Beast with ten heads with disks and horns, standing on land.
Background inscriptions, including one based on Revelation 13:5, ET DATA EST ILLI POTESTATES FACERE M(EN)SES QUADRAGINTA DUOS, and from Commentary of Berengaudus.
Illustration of Revelation 13:4-5.
2) Apocalypse: Beast, War with Saints -- Christ, pearled crossed nimbus, raises His right hand in blessing, holds book in His left hand, and sits on arc, under cloud, in cloud-edged half mandorla from which two nimbed angels emerge. Issuing from the mandorla is scroll, inscribed ET APERUIT DRACO OS SUUM IN BLASFEMIAS AD DEUM NEGANDO IPSUM ESSE DEUM BLASPHEMARE NOMEN EIUS ET TAB(ER)NACULUM EI(US) ET EOS QUI IN CELO HABITANT based on Revelation 13:6.
Below, two groups of soldiers in mail are armed with spears, two bannered, one broken, swords, battle-axes, pitchfork, and shields decorated with heraldry, including lion guardant. All are prostrate, trampled by spotted lion-headed Beast with ten heads with disks and horns.
Background inscriptions. One, ET DATUM ILLI BELLUM FACERE CU(M) S(AN)C(T)IS ET UINC(ER)E EOS, from Revelation 13:7. Second from Revelation 13:7-8, ET DA(TA) EST ILLI POTESTAS IN OMNEM TRIBUM ET P(O)P(U)L(U)M ET LI(N)GUAM ET GENTE(M) ET ADORABUNT EUM OMNES QUI INHABITANT TERRA(M) QUORUM NO(N) SUNT SCRIPTA NOMINA IN LIBRO UITE AGNI QUI OCCISUS EST AB ORIGINE MUNDI, and from Commentary of Berengaudus.
Illustration of Revelation 13:6-7.
Framed illustrations.