Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Apocalypse
England and France, London, between 1255 and 1260
MS M.524 fol. 21r

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1) Apocalypse: River of Life, and Apocalypse: Tree of Life -- John, pearled nimbus, bearded, sits on green mound and raises his right hand toward his face. He looks toward mandorla enclosing Lamb of God, pearled crossed nimbus, on bench, beside Christ, cross-nimbed, with His right hand raised, and left hand on the Lamb, seated on the bench. River of Life flows from vase beneath His feet to flames, surrounded by twelve fruit branches of Tree of Life, all within city wall. To right, the foremost of group of men, some wearing caps, gestures toward the Christ.
Background inscribed from Revelation 22:1-8. Relevant to picture are quotations from Revelation 22:1, ET OSTENDIT M(ICH)I FLUUIUM AQUE UITE SPLENDIDUM TANQUAM CRISTALLUM PROCEDENTEM DE SEDE DEI ET AGNI, from Revelation 22:2, IN MEDIO PLATEE EIUS ET EX UTRAQUE PARTE FLUMINIS LIGNUM VITE AFFERENS FRUCTUS DUODECIM PER MENSES SINGULOS REDDENS FRUCTUM SUUM ET FOLIA LIGNI AD SANITATEM GENCIUM, from Revelation 22:3, ET OMNE MALEDICTUM NON ERIT AMPLIUS ET SEDES DEI ET AGNI IN ILLA ERIT ET SERUI EIUS SERUIENT ILLI and from Revelation 22:4, ET UIDEBUNT FACIEM EIUS ET NOMEN EIUS IN FRONTIBUS EORUM.
Illustration of Revelation 22:1-5.
2) Apocalypse: John and Angel -- Beside tree inhabited by bird and two squirrels, John, pearled nimbus, bearded, kneels with left hand leaning on ground and right hand raised. His chin is touched by left hand of angel, pearled nimbus, wearing fillet, with garment raised in right hand pointing to Christ, inscribed IHS XPC, pearled nimbus. He raises His right hand in blessing, holds up book in His left hand, and sits on arc, within cloud-edged mandorla.
Background inscribed from Revelation 22:8, ET POSTQ(UA)M AUDISSEM ET UIDISSEM CECIDI UT ADORAREM ANTE PEDES ANGELI QUI MICHI HEC OSTENDEBAT, and from Revelation 22:9, ET DIXIT MICHI UIDE NE FECERIS CONSERUUS TUUS SUM ET FRATRUM TUORUM PROPHETARUM ET EORUM QUI SERUANT UERBA LIBRI HUIUS DEUM ADORA.
Illustration of Revelation 22:8-9.
Framed illustrations.