Decorated letter from BL Harley 7586A, f. 2
Detail of the Hebrew letter ~shin~ decorated with foliate motifs, which served as a book plate of the patron Shabbetai ben Mattatya of Rome (see Narkiss, 1984). Image taken from f. 2 of Guide of the Perplexed (... More
Tudor Rose from BL Royal 11 E XI, f. 2
Detail of an allegorical miniature of a bush of the Tudor rose incorporating a Latin poem celebrating the House of Tudor, with a scroll reading 'Salve, radix varios producens germine ramos, / Quos inter ramus s... More
Manuscript Leaves from an Arabic Manuscript
Made in Byzantine Egypt Public domain reproduction of Greek Byzantine medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Diagram of the sun from BL Harley 3735, f. 18
Detail of diagrams with the movements of the sun around the earth, illustrating Johannes de Sacro Bosco's Tractatus de sphaera. The cities of Rome and Paris are depicted in the diagram on the right. Image taken... More
Diagram from BL Harley 3735, f. 23
Diagram illustrating Johannes de Sacro Bosco's Tractatus de sphaera. Image taken from f. 23 of Various calendarial and computistical treatises. Written in Latin.
Decorated table from BL Or 1423, f. 3
Index of biblical passages with geometrical decoration and coloured letters. Image taken from f. 3 of The Guide of the Perplexed, Judeo-Arabic text (~Dalalat al Ha'irin~). Written in Judeo-Arabic.
f. 156v, displayed as an open bifolium with f. 155: text page. from BL...
Palaeontological observations; notes on the 'heart and soul', Man as 'model of the world', and generative processes of nature. Image taken from f. 156v of Notebook ('The Codex Arundel'). Written in Italian.
Image from BL Hargrave 274, f. 328v
Image taken from f. 328v of Nova Statuta (index Statutes of England, Statuta Angliae), 1 Edward III to 3 Henry VII (ff. 50-350v), preceded by an alphabetical list of contents (ff. 1-49). Written in French.
The Visitation from BL Eg 1139, f. 1v
Miniature of the Visitation. Image taken from f. 1v of Psalter (The 'Melisende Psalter') with canticles, prayers, and litany. Written in Latin.
Green Tara, Folio from a dispersed Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Perf...
Public domain photo of Asian art painting, classical or archaic, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Haggai from BL Harley 2803, f. 281
Detail of a historiated initial 'I'(n anno) depicting the standing prophet holding a scroll, at the beginning of Haggai (Aggaeus). Image taken from f. 281 of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible),... More
Decorated initial from BL Harley 2803, f. 263v
Detail of a decorated initial 'N' with clasps. Image taken from f. 263v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin.
"Preparing Medicine from Honey", from a Dispersed Manuscript of an Ara...
Public domain photo of a 3d object, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Giovanni Boccaccio - Detail from BL Harley 1766, f. 76, illuminated ma...
Miniature of Euridyce and Orpheus with his harp. Image taken from f. 76 of The Fall of Princes (index De casibus virorum et feminarum illustrium), abridged. Written in English.
St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, gives secretly dowries to three poor gir...
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Solomon kneels in prayer at the dedication of the temple(?)
Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
The Annunciation: Gabriel announces Christ's birth to Mary
The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce that she had been chosen to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. The event is recorded in the New Testamen... More
Richard II and Bolingbroke from BL Harley 1319, f. 50
Detail of a miniature of Richard II and Bolingbroke at Flint Castle. Image taken from f. 50 of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (index Histoire rimée de Richa... More
George from BL Harley 2952, f. 21
Miniature of George and the dragon. Image taken from f. 21 of Book of Hours. Written in French, with some rubrics in Latin.
Annunciation to Zacharias from BL Royal 18 E V, f. 365v
Detail of a miniature of the Annunciation, and the Annunciation to Zacharias. Image taken from f. 365v of Chronique of Baudouin d'Avennes (L'histoire tripartite, Le trésor de sapience). Written in French. The ... More
Soldiers from BL Royal 15 E I, f. 333
Detail of a miniature of two soldiers with a spear and a sword exchanging money. Image taken from f. 333 of Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum, in French, with continuation to 1231. Written in French.
Isaiah's vision: an angel purifies his lips with a burning coal from t...
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Washing of the Feet from BL Harley 1810, f. 246
Miniature of Christ washing the feet of the Apostles. Image taken from f. 246 of Four Gospels. Written in Greek.
Vincent of Beauvais from BL Royal 14 E I, f. 3
Miniature of Vincent of Beauvais as a Dominican monk, sitting at a desk and writing his book, at the beginning of book 1, with a full border containing the Royal arms of England, with Edward IV's colours of red... More
Detail from BL Sloane 6, f. 176v
Image taken from f. 176v of Medical treatise. Written in English.
Dido welcoming Aeneas from BL Royal 16 G VII, f. 82
Detail of a miniature of Dido welcoming Aeneas. Image taken from f. 82 of Les anciennes hystoires rommaines (A compilation of ancient history in two parts, each preceded by a table of contents: Part 1, l'Histoi... More
Alexander fighting dragons and creatures from BL Royal 20 A V, f. 73
Miniature of Alexander and his army fighting against dragons; miniature of Alexander and his army encountering dog-headed men (cynocephali). Image taken from f. 73 of Roman d'Alexandre en Prose, imperfect at th... More
f. 264, displayed as an open bifolium with f. 269v: notes and sketches...
Notes and diagram on mechanics; notes and schematic sketches on spriral staircases (side-on). Image taken from f. 264 of Notebook ('The Codex Arundel'). Written in Italian.
Christ and disciples from BL Royal 20 D V, f. 27
Detail of a miniature of Christ and his disciples standing. Image taken from f. 27 of Les omelies Saint Grégoire pape. Written in French.
Blank page from BL Arundel 263, f. 210v
Blank page. Image taken from f. 210v of Notebook ('The Codex Arundel'). Written in Italian.
Heaven of the Moon from BL YT 36, f. 131
Miniature of Dante and Beatrice visiting the inhabitants of the heaven of the moon. Image taken from f. 131 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian.
Inferno: Dante, the leopard and the lion from BL Eg 943, f. 3
Detail of miniature of Dante meeting the leopard and the lion. Image taken from f. 3 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin commentary; the Capitolo (ff. 187... More
Trio of musicians from BL Harley 4375, f. 151v
Detail of a miniature depicting a trio of musicians, a 'soft consort' playing a lute, a recorder, and a harp, in a room with closed and open books. Image taken from f. 151v of Les Fais et les Dis des Romains et... More
Cover from BL Eg 2610, upper cover
Brown sheepskin over wooden boards, with blind-stamping of fleur-de-lys and rosettes, probably Cretan. Image taken from upper cover of Four Gospels, with the Canons of Eusebius and the epistle to Carpianus. Wri... More
Lady Jane Grey inscription from BL Harley 2342, f. 76v
Text page with coloured initials and line-fillers, and a portion of a message written in the margin by Lady Jane Grey to Sir John Bridges, Lieutenant of the Tower (continued from f. 76): '… Precher sayethe ther... More
Knights jousting from BL Harley 4205, f. 19v
Coloured drawings of combatant mounted knights in armour and tabard. Image taken from f. 19v of Anonymous verses on the kings of England, to Henry VI, unfinished (manuscript also known as Sir Thomas Holme's Boo... More
Royal arms of England from BL Royal 19 C VIII, f. 3
Detail of the Royal arms of England, with a crown in the lower margin of the folio. Image taken from f. 3 of Imaginacion de vraye noblesse. Written in French.
Dante and Virgil in Purgatory from BL Eg 943, f. 95
Detail of a miniature of Virgil's second discourse to Dante on love and free will. Image taken from f. 95 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin commentary; ... More
Geoffrey Chaucer from BL Royal 17 D VI, f. 93v
Detail of a marginal miniature of Geoffrey Chaucer pointing the text, with a caption reading 'Chauceris ymago'. Image taken from f. 93v of The Regement of Princes, with other poems. Written in English.
Greek envoys from BL Royal 16 F IX, f. 51v
Detail of a miniature of Dolon and the Greek envoys received by Priam. Image taken from f. 51v of Historia destructionis Troiae in a French translation. Written in French.
Dante speaks to Arnaut from BL Eg 943, f. 111
Framed miniature of Dante (with Statius and Virgil) speaking to one of the lustful, perhaps Arnaut Image taken from f. 111 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short L... More
Arms of Edward VI from BL Royal 16 E XXXII, f. 1v
Frontispiece with the arms of Edward VI. Image taken from f. 1v of Addressed to Edward VI (f. 1), dedicatory letter referring to the recent peace with Henry II of France (ff. 2-3v), Ad Nicoclem, beginning, 'Ceu... More
Scribe demonstrating to his pupils from BL Royal 17 E III, f. 209
Detail of a miniature of a scribe demonstrating to his pupils. Image taken from f. 209 of De proprietatibus rerum (Livre des proprietez des choses). Written in French.
Greek army with Xenophon from BL Royal 19 C VI, f. 83
Detail of a miniature of the Greek army with Xenophon, and piles of the dead. Image taken from f. 83 of Anabasis. Written in French.
The Light from BL YT 36, f. 179
Detail of a miniature of Dante and Beatrice before the Light. Image taken from f. 179 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian.
Angels turning the axis of the world from BL Harley 4940, f. 28
Diagram with angels turning the axis of the world. Image taken from f. 28 of Breviari d'amor. Written in French.
Death of Sweyn from BL YT 47, f. 83
Miniature of the apparition of Edmund, in armour, aided by an angel, slaying Sweyn in bed with a spear, from John Lydgate's Lives of Saints Edmund and Fremund. Image taken from f. 83 of Lives of Saints Edmund a... More
Marginalia from BL Royal 19 B XIII, f. 5
Detail of marginalia from the lower border, including a grotesque with a bow, hounds, dragons, and a monkey. Image taken from f. 5 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French.
Text page from BL Harley 2253, f. 73
Text page. Image taken from f. 73 of Various texts including secular and religious lyrics (also known as the 'Harley Lyrics'), including King Horn and the Follies of Fashion, and Psalms listed for recitation at... More
Arms of Edward IV from BL Royal 14 E II, f. 194
Detail from the full border containing the arms of Edward IV, at the beginning of book 3. Image taken from f. 194 of Le chemin de Vaillance, and other texts (see Notes below for contents). Written in French.
Inhabited border from BL Harley 5699, f. 189v
Detail of a foliate border with two hybrids and a peacock in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 189v of Lisbon Mishneh Torah, volume 2. Written in Hebrew.
Esther from BL Harley 4381, f. 250
Detail of miniature of Esther pleading with king Ahasuerus. Image taken from f. 250 of Bible historiale (vol. 1). Written in French, with some Latin for frontispiece.
Owl from BL Harley 4751, f. 47 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail of a miniature of an owl (Bubo) being attacked by three smaller birds. Image taken from f. 47 of Bestiary, with extracts from Giraldus Cambrensis on Irish birds. Written in Latin.
Christ preaching from BL Royal 20 D V, f. 31v
Detail of a miniature of Christ preaching. Image taken from f. 31v of Les omelies Saint Grégoire pape. Written in French.
f. 78v, displayed as an open bifolium with f. 73: diagrams, notes, cal...
Notes and diagrams on optics (caustics of reflection); mathematical calculations; household accounts (not in Leonado's hand). Image taken from f. 78v of Notebook ('The Codex Arundel'). Written in Italian.
Vilenie from BL Royal 19 B XIII, f. 6
Detail of a miniature of Vilenie (Villainy, Abuse, Baseness) offering the Lover (L'Amans) a potion. Image taken from f. 6 of Roman de la Rose. Written in French.
f. 197, displayed as an open bifolium with f. 198v: diagrams from BL A...
Notes and diagrams. Image taken from f. 197 of Notebook ('The Codex Arundel'). Written in Italian.
Bible scenes and moralisations from BL Harley 1527, f. 107
Detail of two Bible scenes and moralisations. Image taken from f. 107 of Bible moralisée (section of the Oxford-Paris-London Bible moralisée). Written in Latin.
The Tree of Jesse - Public domain medieval manuscript
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Goats, Illuminated manuscript, England, illuminated manuscript
Public domain reproduction of English medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Diagram from BL Harley 531, f. 4v
Diagram. Image taken from f. 4v of Tractatus de sphaera (index De sphera), in a mathematical and scientific miscellany. Written in Latin.
Man embracing woman from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 109v
Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a man with a bucket embracing a woman, while putting something into the cooking pot behind her. Image taken from f. 109v of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'S... More
Monk driving off a devil from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 247
Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a monk driving off a devil with a cudgel. Image taken from f. 247 of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals'). Written in Latin.
Man and woman holding hands from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 311v
Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a man and a woman holding hands, as two men look on. Image taken from f. 311v of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals'). Written in Latin.
Simeon from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 222v
Detail of an historiated initial 'S'(eint) of Simeon on his pillar, with the pilgrims below. Image taken from f. 222v of Lives of the Saints. Written in French.
Simon Magus, Peter and Paul from BL Royal 20 D VI, f. 1
Detail of a historiated initial 'Q'(uant) of Simon Magus and Peter and Paul before Nero, at the beginning of the rubric 'Ci commence li escris de seint Pere et de seint Pol encontre Symon Mague devant lempereo... More
Woman approaching a windmill from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 70v
Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a woman approaching a windmill with a sack of grain. Image taken from f. 70v of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals'). Written in Latin.
Inhabited panel from BL Harley 7586A, f. 5v
Panel inhabited by a hybrid, accompanying the initial words of a section. Image taken from f. 5v of Guide of the Perplexed (~Moreh Nevukhim~) by Maimonides in Samuel ibn Tibbon's translation (ff. 3-169v); ~Per... More
Rothschild Pentateuch - Hebrew illuminated manuscript
Public domain reproduction of French medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Zoomorphic initial from BL Harley 585, f. 130 manuscript
Initial 'W'' decorated with zoomorphic motifs of snakes. Image taken from f. 130 of Medical miscellany in Old English, including the translations of the Pseudo-Apuleius's 'Herbarium', imperfect (ff. 1-66v), the... More
Plants from BL Harley 1585, ff. 37v-38
Miniatures of plants. Image taken from ff. 37v-38 of Medical miscellany of a pharmacopeial compilation, including a herbal and bestiary illustrating the pharmocopeial properties of animals (see Notes). Written in Latin.
The adoration of the Christ-child by the Magi
The Adoration of the Christ, also known as the Adoration of the Christ Child, is a subject in Christian art that depicts the presentation of the baby Jesus to the Magi (also known as the Three Wise Men). The Ad... More
Symbol of St. John: eagle, with (7) banner of the Agnus Dei (without l...
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Esther before Ahasuerus - Public domain medieval manuscript
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Church Fathers from BL Harley 4902, f. 1
Historiated initial 'G'(loriosissimam) with Augustine as a bishop, with stigmata, combined with a three-sided white vine border including the coats of arms of the Hungarian humanists Janus Vitez (index John Vit... More
Peter from BL YT 29, f. 55v - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail of an historiated initial 'D'(eus) of Peter with a book, with a partial border of flowers, leaves, and a bird. Image taken from f. 55v of Book of Hours, Use of Rome (the 'Hours of Bonaparte Ghislieri', f... More
Ox from BL Royal 12 C XIX, f. 32v
Miniature of an ox. Image taken from f. 32v of Bestiary, and various theological texts, e.g., Isidore of Seville, Imago Mundi. Written in Latin.
Pliny from BL Harley 2677, f. 1
Detail of a miniature in colours and gold showing Pliny writing in his study and a landscape with animals, rivers, the sea, sun and moon. Image taken from f. 1 of Historia naturalis (index Natural history). Wri... More
Detail: Emperor Justinian from BL Arundel 484, f. 6
Miniature of the Emperor Justinian with a sword, surrounded by several figures, at the beginning of Justinian's Digestum Vetus. Image taken from f. 6 of Digestum Vetus with glossa ordinaria. Written in Latin.
Mermaid from BL Sloane 3544, f. 28v
Detail of a miniatures of men in a boat, and a mermaid holding fish. Image taken from f. 28v of Bestiary. Written in Latin.
Esther before Ahasuerus (3rd of 3)
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Bishop and monks from BL Royal 11 D IX, f. 210v
Detail of a miniature of a bishop and two monks, at the beginning of causa 18. Image taken from f. 210v of Decretum, with the glossa ordinaria. Written in Latin.
Basilisk and regulus from BL Royal 12 C XIX, f. 63
Miniature of a basilisk and two victims of its murderous gaze, a man and a ermine or ferret, and a miniature of a regulus. Image taken from f. 63 of Bestiary, and various theological texts, e.g., Isidore of Sev... More
Mark from BL Eg 608, f. 59v - Public domain medieval manuscript
Miniature of Mark with his symbol above. Image taken from f. 59v of Four Gospels, with list of lections (ff. 168v-177). Written in Latin.
A skull - Public domain medieval manuscript
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Astrological diagram from BL Harley 4940, f. 43
Detail of a miniature of an astronomical diagram. Image taken from f. 43 of Breviari d'amor. Written in French.
April from BL YT 3, f. 4 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Miniature of three gentlewomen and a gentleman gathering flowers in a field, with a full foliate border, including a bull (Taurus), on the calendar page for April. Image taken from f. 4 of Book of Hours, Use of... More
The coronation of Mary by God - Public domain dedication image
Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description. The Coronation of Mary, also known as the Assumption of Mary or the C... More
The Agony in the Garden: Christ prays in Gethsemane
The Agony in the Garden refers to the event in the life of Jesus Christ when he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before his arrest and crucifixion. According to the New Testament, he was overwhelmed wit... More
The Holy Spirit as a dove(?) - Public domain medieval manuscript
Public domain scan of a medieval illuminated manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Two souls in Purgatory - miniature, medieval manuscript
Public domain reproduction of illuminated book page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description. Purgatory is a concept in Roman Catholicism and some other Christian denominations that r... More
Miniatures from BL Harley 3244, ff. 27v-28
Diagram of the seven vices represented as devils: Superbia (Pride), Invidia (Envy), Ira (Wrath), Accidia (Sloth), Avaricia (Covetousness), Gula (Gluttony), and Luxuria (Self-indulgence), each subdivided, and co... More
Partial border from BL Harley 5221, f. 2
Partial border with foliate motifs, a large faceted initial 'C'(um), and two putti flanking the coat of arms of Andrea Matteo Acquaviva, duke of Atri. Image taken from f. 2 of On Strategems (index Strategemata)... More
![Symbol of St. Mark: lion, with (1) baptismal font, (2) cushion [bed of the paralytic], (3) fleeing devil, (4) sack of seeds, barrel [bushel?], (5) bust of a woman, (6) prophet, the head of St. John the Baptist on a platter](https://cache.getarchive.net/Prod/thumb/cdn8/L3Bob3RvLzIwMTYvMDUvMTUvc3ltYm9sLW9mLXN0LW1hcmstbGlvbi13aXRoLTEtYmFwdGlzbWFsLWZvbnQtMi1jdXNoaW9uLWJlZC1vZi10aGUtcGFyYWx5dGljLTZlNDE1OC0xMDI0LmpwZw%3D%3D/40/55/webp "Symbol of St. Mark: lion, with (1) baptismal font, (2) cushion [bed of the paralytic], (3) fleeing devil, (4) sack of seeds, barrel [bushel?], (5) bust of a woman, (6) prophet, the head of St. John the Baptist on a platter")
Symbol of St. Mark: lion, with (1) baptismal font, (2) cushion [bed of...
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Pythagoras, who defended the doctrine of metempsychosis or transmigrat...
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Pentecost from BL Harley 2891, f. 176v
Detail of a historiated initia 'S'(priritus) of the Apostles and the Virgin receiving the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). Image taken from f. 176v of Missal, use of Paris. Written in Latin.
Raising of Lazarus from BL Royal 20 B IV, f. 96v
Detail of a miniature of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead. Image taken from f. 96v of Meditationes vitae Christi (Le Livre doré des meditations de la vie de nostre seigneur Jesu Christ). Written in French. ... More
Tobias tells Tobit of a dead man in the street, Tobit leaves the banqu...
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Hosea and Gomer from BL Royal 1 C II, f. 306
Detail of a historiated initial 'V'(erbum) of Hosea and Gomer, at the beginning of Hosea. Image taken from f. 306 of Bible, with the Interpretation of Hebrew names (imperfect). Written in Latin.
Author portrait from BL Harley 3969, f. 41
Historiated initial 'E'(x Cassiodoro) with the author Cassiodorus pointing at an open book, and a foliated tendril extending into the margin; the body of the letter contains a blue figure. Smaller historiated i... More