Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

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

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1) Apocalypse: False Prophet and Beast -- John, pearled nimbus, stands, holding staff, looking toward spotted lion-headed Beast with seven heads, ten disks on heads, worshipped by six kneeling men, some with hands raised or joined. They are indicated by False Prophet, represented as beast with ram's horns, emerging from hole in ground and pointing to flames (fire) descending from cloud.
Background inscriptions. One, inscribed ET UIDI ALIAM BESTIA(M) ASCENDENTEM DE TERRA ET HABEBAT CORNUA DUO SI(MI)LIA AGNI ET LOQUEBAR SICUT DRACO from Revelation 13:11, and ET FECIT TERRAM ET HABITANTES IN EA ADORARE BESTIAM PRIMAM CUIUS CURATA EST PLAGA MORTIS from Revelation 13:12. Second, inscribed ET FECIT SIGNA MAGNA UT ETIAM IGNE(M) FACERET DE CELO DESCENDERE IN TERRAM IN CONSPECTU HOMINEM from Revelation 13:13. Third, inscribed ET FECIT HOMINES ISTOS UT BESTIAM ADORARENT, from Commentary of Berengaudus.
Illustration of Revelation 13:11-13.
2) Apocalypse: False Prophet and Beast -- Among six men, some kneel with hands raised; two are grasped by two soldiers in mail. One raises sword, and the other, with sheathed sword at belt, holding axe, is touched by False Prophet, represented as beast with ram's horns. The beast sits on grassy mound, touching one of group of kneeling men worshipping image of spotted lion-headed Beast with seven heads, with ten horns and ten disks, standing on draped altar.
Background inscription, ET DATUM EST ILLI UT DARET SPIRITUM IMAGINI BESTIE QUE HABET PLAGAM GLADII ET UIXIT ET UT LOQ(UA)TUR ET FACIAT UT QUICU(M)Q(UE) NO(N) ADORAUERU(N)T IMAGINE(M) BESTIE OCCIDANTUR, based on Revelation 13:14-15. Illustration of Revelation 13:14-15.
Framed illustrations.