Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Apocalypse
England and France, London, between 1255 and 1260
MS M.524 fol. 19r

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1) Apocalypse: Beast and False Prophet taken -- Among nine mounted warriors, one holds sword and holds reins of bridled horse in frontal pose; three hold bannered lances. All accompany Christ, eyes flaming, with seven disks as crowns, in mantle spotted with blood, and cross-inscribed shield, decorated with four crescents, on His breast, and mounted on bridled white horse. He holds sword in right hand and indicates with left hand five warriors. One with forked implement (pitchfork) thrusts spotted lion-headed Beast, disk on head, beside False Prophet, represented as beast, into flaming Hell Mouth. Five birds attack group of men in the Hell Mouth. Background inscription based on Revelation 19:20, HIC APPREHENSA EST BESTIA ET CUM ILLO PSEUDOPROPHETA QUI FECIT SIGNA CORAM IPSA QUIBUS SEDUXIT EOS QUI ACCEPERUNT CARACTEREM BESTIE ET QUI ADORAUERUNT IMAGINEM EIUS UIUI MISSI SUNT HII DUO IN STAGNUM IGNIS ARDENTIS SULPHURE, and from Revelation 19:21, ET CETERI OCCISI SUNT IN GLADIO SEDENTIS SUPER EQUUM QUI PROCEDIT DE ORE IPSIUS ET OMNES AUES SATURATE SUNT CARNIBUS EORUM.
Illustration of Revelation 19:20.
2) Apocalypse: Dragon imprisoned -- John, pearled nimbus, raises right hand and sits on top of cave from which emerges winged red Dragon with seven crowned heads, disks on heads. Chain around its neck is held by two nimbed angels with pearled nimbi, one standing and taking key from the other emerging from cloud. Angel, pearled nimbus, with key locks Hell Mouth in which is seven-headed winged red Dragon with chain around its neck.
Background inscription from Revelation 20:1, ET UIDI ANGELUM DESCENDENTEM DE CELO HABENTEM CLAUEM ABYSSI ET CATHENAM MAGNAM IN MANU SUA, from Revelation 20:2, ET APPREHENDIT DRACONEM SERPENTEM ANTIQUUM QUI EST DIABOLUS ET SATHANAS ET LIGAUIT EUM PER ANNOS MILLE, and from Revelation 20:3, ET MISIT EUM IN ABISSUM ET CLAUSIT CONSUMMENTUR MILLE ANNI. POST HEC OPORTET ILLUM SOLUI MODICO TEMPORE.
Illustration of Revelation 20:1-3.
Framed illustrations.