23,301 Medieval miniatures Images: PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search Engine Public Domain Search

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Calendar from BL Harley 3735, f. 6v

January in a calendarial table, in a treatise attributed to Robert Grosseteste 'Lincolniensis': Image taken from f. 6v of Various calendarial and computistical treatises. Written in Latin.

Detail from BL Burn 310, f. 158

Detail of decorated initial 'E'(go). Image taken from f. 158 of Historia Brittonum, Vita Gildae, and other Vitae. Written in Latin.

Adoration of the Magi from BL Eg 1139, f. 2v

Miniature of the Adoration of the Magi, and the Magi being led by an angel. Image taken from f. 2v of Psalter (The 'Melisende Psalter') with canticles, prayers, and litany. Written in Latin.

Monk from BL Harley 2803, f. 1v

Detail of a monk, from a miniature at the beginning of Jerome's letter to Ambrose. Image taken from f. 1v of Bible (the 'Worms Bible') (index Frankenthal Bible), Genesis to Job. Written in Latin.

Green Tara Dispensing Boons to Ecstatic Devotees: Folio from a Manuscr...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, classical or archaic, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Green Tara, Folio from a dispersed Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita (Perf...

Picryl description: Public domain image related to Tibetan Buddhism, sculpture, monument, painting, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Decorated headpiece and initial from BL Arundel 529, ff. 5v-6

Simple headpiece and intial 'T'(on) in an extract from Cyril of Scythopolis's Life of Euthymius of Palestine. Image taken from ff. 5v-6 of Theological extracts and various letters. Written in Greek.

Agamemnon and Clytemnestra from BL Royal 20 C V, f. 52v

Miniature of Agamemnon being clubbed on the head by Aegisthus; Clytemnestra is in front with an attendant. Image taken from f. 52v of Des cleres et nobles femmes, De claris mulieribus in an anonymous French tra... More

Baptism of Clovis from BL YT 32, f. 4v

Miniature of the baptism of Clovis by a bishop, as his queen Clothilda and courtiers look on, with a miniature of the martyrdom of Maurice in a compartment on the left. With a scatter border of flowers, acanth... More

Dante's dream from BL Eg 943, f. 3

Detail of a miniature of Dante's dream and his soul leaving his body. Image taken from f. 3 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy): Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso, with a short Latin commentary; the Capitolo (... More

Knights in combat from BL Harley 4418, f. 56

Detail of miniature depicting knights in single combat, with spectators. Image taken from f. 56 of Jean d'Arras, Roman de Mélusine (imperfect). Written in French.

Christ in Majesty from BL Harley 1810, f. 135v

Miniature of Christ in Majesty. Image taken from f. 135v of Four Gospels. Written in Greek.

Alexander fighting strange creatures from BL Royal 20 A V, f. 74

Miniature of Alexander and his army encountering men with heads on their torsos (blemmyae); miniature of Alexander and his army fighting against horse-like beasts. Image taken from f. 74 of Roman d'Alexandre en... More

Battle from BL Royal 16 F IX, f. 66v

Detail of a miniature of a battle between Greeks and Trojans. Image taken from f. 66v of Historia destructionis Troiae in a French translation. Written in French.

Death of Telegonus from BL Royal 16 F IX, f. 98v

Detail of a miniature of the death of Telegonus. Image taken from f. 98v of Historia destructionis Troiae in a French translation. Written in French.

Scorpio and Sagittarius from BL YT 31, f. 47v

Miniature of Scorpio, the scorpion; miniature of Sagittarius, a centaur aiming his bow, in Matfré Ermengau of Béziers's Breviari d'Amour. Image taken from f. 47v of Breviari d'Amor (Catalan prose version). Writ... More

Miracles of Christ from BL YT 31, f. 225v

Six-part group of miniatures of the miracles of Christ. First tier (left to right): miniature of Christ healing a manman; miniature of Christ healing a paralytic, who stands before him holding out his powerle... More

Noah's ark from BL Harley 4381, f. 12

Miniature of Noah's ark. Image taken from f. 12 of Bible historiale (vol. 1). Written in French, with some Latin for frontispiece.

Henry VIII from BL Harley 472, f. 1

Miniature portrait of Henry VIII wearing an emblazoned coat. Image taken from f. 1 of Collection of arms and mottoes of Companies and Corporations of London. Written in English.

Duke of Salisbury arriving at Conway from BL Harley 1319, f. 14v

Miniature of the Duke of Salisbury arriving at Conway in a fleet of late-era cog ships. Image taken from f. 14v of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (index His... More

Battle of Coquerel from BL YT 35, f. 71

Detail of a miniature of the Battle of Coquerel, from Jean Cuvelier's Chanson de Bertrand du Guesclin. Image taken from f. 71 of La chanson de Bertrand du Guesclin. Written in French.

Christ teaching the Pater Noster from BL YT 11, f. 52v

Miniature of Christ in Majesty holding a sceptre and an orb, with his hand raised in blessing as the twelve apostles sit around him; below, a group of eight Jews sit on the ground, looking up and at each other.... More

Castle of Love from BL Royal 16 F II, f. 188

Detail of a miniature of the Castle of Love, with the lover addressing three women. Image taken from f. 188 of Poems; Art d'amour; Les demands d'amour; Le liver dot grace entire sure le fait du government d'un ... More

Richard II at Conway from BL Harley 1319, f. 19v

Detail of a miniature of Richard II at Conway, disguised in a priest's cowl. Image taken from f. 19v of La Prinse et mort du roy Richart (Book of the Capture and Death of King Richard II) (index Histoire rimée... More

Travellers to Tyre and Jaffa from BL Add 24189, f. 8

Miniature of travellers, arriving, above, by sea at Tyre and, below, on land at Jaffa. Image taken from f. 8 of Illustrations for Mandeville's Travels (index Voyage d'outre mer, Itinerarium).

George I from BL Eg 2572, f. 20

Miniature of a bust of George I. Image taken from f. 20 of Guild Book of the Barber Surgeons of York, including its ordinances. Written in English and Latin.

Dancing from BL Harley 4425, f. 14v

Miniature of the Carolle (round dance with music) in the garden of Sir Mirth, watched by the narrator of the Roman de la rose, dressed in blue, at the left. Image taken from f. 14v of Roman de la Rose (index Ro... More

Apothecary shop from BL Sloane 1977, f. 49v

Miniature of an apothecary's shop with apothecary jars and boxes on shelves, a seated man holding a cover jar, and a flat dish on a hook used for mixing ingredients. Image taken from f. 49v of Circa instans (in... More

Creation of Adam from BL Or 2884, f. 1v

Detail of a miniature of the creation of Adam by the angels. Image taken from f. 1v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Sister Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Resurrection from BL Royal 19 A XXII, f. 16

Detail of a miniature of the Resurrection. Image taken from f. 16 of Sept articles de la foy. Written in French.

Samson from BL Or 2737, f. 35v - Public domain medieval manuscript

Detail of a folio: miniature of Samson rending the lion. Image taken from f. 35v of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Seder table from BL Add 14762, f. 6

Detail of a page: miniature of a spread Seder table surrounded by the participants. Image taken from f. 6 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Ashkenazi Haggadah'), German rite with the commentary of Eleazar of Worms... More

Jesus and his disciples from BL Eg 1122, f. 1[v]

Miniature of Jesus and his disciples, at the beginning of a Gospel Lectionary for Lent. Image taken from f. 1[v] of Gospel Lectionary for Lent. Written in German with some Latin.

The parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins: the five wise virgins

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Seder table from BL Or 2737, f. 91

Full-page miniature of a Seder table, in an architectural frame. Image taken from f. 91 of Haggadah for Passover (the 'Hispano-Moresque Haggadah'). Written in Hebrew.

Queen and monk from BL Harley 4399, f. 22

Detail of a miniature of a queen equipping a monk with a scrip and staff from a chest. Image taken from f. 22 of Pèlerinage de vie humaine (index Pelerinage de vie humaine, Pilgrimage of the life of man). Writt... More

Nature from BL Harley 4425, f. 123v

Detail of a miniature of an allegorical figure of Nature holding an anvil. Image taken from f. 123v of Roman de la Rose (index Romance of the Rose). Written in French.

Exodus from Egypt from BL Add 14762, ff. 14v-15

Marginal illustration occupying both lower margins of the double opening depicting the Exodus of the Israelites with Moses dividing the sea by the help of a divine hand (f. 15) and behind them the Egyptians pur... More

Resurrection of the dead from BL YT 36, f. 154

Detail of a miniature of the Resurrection of the dead. Image taken from f. 154 of Divina Commedia (index Divine Comedy). Written in Italian.

King Nascien being given bread at sea from BL Add 10292, f. 56v

Miniature of King Nascien alone in a boat being given bread by the commander of a ship. Image taken from f. 56v of L'estoire del Saint Graal (ff. 1-76); L'estoire de Merlin (ff. 76-216). Written in French.

Plan of Jerusalem - miniature, medieval manuscript

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Two men before a bishop from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 251

Detail of a miniature of two men standing before a bishop. Image taken from f. 251 of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals'). Written in Latin.

Man taking a woman by the hand from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 139v

Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a man taking a woman by the hand. Image taken from f. 139v of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals'). Written in Latin.

Two ships from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 19

Detail of a bas-de-page scene of two ships engaged in a battle. Image taken from f. 19 of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals'). Written in Latin.

Reynard the Fox from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 49v

Detail of a bas-de-page scene of Reynard the Fox, with a fox wearing a bishop's mitre and carrying a crozier preaching to birds, including falcons, chickens, geese, a stork and a swan. On the right, fox runs t... More

Man and Virgin Mary from BL Royal 10 E IV, f. 194

Detail of a bas-de-page scene of a man speaking to the Virgin Mary. Image taken from f. 194 of Decretals of Gregory IX with glossa ordinaria (the 'Smithfield Decretals'). Written in Latin.

Penwork embellishments from BL Harley 7586A, f. 178

Penwork embellishments accompanying the initial words and spreading to the entire length of the leaf. Image taken from f. 178 of Guide of the Perplexed (~Moreh Nevukhim~) by Maimonides in Samuel ibn Tibbon's tr... More

Arcade from BL Harley 7586A, f. 63

Initial words framed by an arcade, at the beginning of the second part of the Guide. The arcade is decorated with geometrical, palmette and foliate motifs. Image taken from f. 63 of Guide of the Perplexed (~Mor... More

Foliate initial and full border from BL Arundel 124, f. 1

Foliate initial 'C'(ogitanti) and full border, at the beginning of Cicero's De oratore. Image taken from f. 1 of De oratore (ff. 1-88); De senectute (ff. 89-101); De amicitia (ff. 101v-116v); De optimo genere o... More

Crucifixion from BL Eg 3018, f. 23v

Miniature with the Crucifixion, and historiated initial with God supporting the dead Christ, with a full foliate border. Image taken from f. 23v of Missal, Use of Cologne. Written in Latin.

Darnel and Hop from BL Eg 747, f. 55v

Miniature of a lollium, or darnel plant; miniature of a luppulus, or hop plant. Image taken from f. 55v of Tractatus de herbis (Herbal); De Simplici Medicina (index Secreta Salernitana); Circa instans; Antidota... More

Fool and dog from BL Royal 19 D VI, f. 267v

Detail of a miniature of a kneeling fool with an uplifted club biting a dog's tail. Image taken from f. 267v of Bible historiale complétée (Genesis - Psalms). Written in French.

Stinking Iris and Chicory from BL Eg 747, f. 37v

Miniature of an exifion, or stinking iris plant; miniature of an eliotropion, or chicory or wild succory plant. Image taken from f. 37v of Tractatus de herbis (Herbal); De Simplici Medicina (index Secreta Saler... More

Meadow Rue and Jasmine from BL Eg 747, f. 98

Miniature of a silfu, or common meadow rue plant; miniature of a sanbacus, or jasmine plant. Image taken from f. 98 of Tractatus de herbis (Herbal); De Simplici Medicina (index Secreta Salernitana); Circa insta... More

Baptism of Christ and Marriage at Cana from BL Royal 1 D X, f. 3v

Miniature from the prefatory cycle of the Baptism of Christ in the upper register, and the Marriage at Cana in the lower register. Image taken from f. 3v of Psalter (index Old Testament, Bible). Written in Latin.

Pope Clement VI from BL Harley 1340, f. 6

Miniature of Pope Clement VI. Image taken from f. 6 of Vaticinia de Pontificibus (index Prophecies of the Popes). Written in Latin.

Ascension of Christ from BL Royal 20 B IV, f. 158v

Detail of a miniature of the Ascension of Christ. Image taken from f. 158v of Meditationes vitae Christi (Le Livre doré des meditations de la vie de nostre seigneur Jesu Christ). Written in French.

Initial from BL Add 22310, ff. 10 (1), 11 (1 and 3), 12 (1-18), f. 11 ...

Foliate initial 'S'. Image taken from f. 11 (3) of Cuttings from a choir book. Written in Latin.

Combat of Eteocles and Polynices from BL Burn 257, f. 187v

Detail of a miniature of the mortal combat of Eteocles and Polynices in front of King Adrastus and Tisiphone, illustrating book 11, verses 497ff of Statius's Thebaid. Image taken from f. 187v of Thebais (index ... More

Illuminated initial from BL Harley 2639, f. 15

Illuminated initial 'S'(aepe) at the beginning of Tacitus' Dialogus de oratoribus. Image taken from f. 15 of De grammaticis et rhetoribus (ff. 2-14v); Dialogus de oratoribus (ff. 15-42v). Written in Latin.

Death of Judas; Flagellation of Christ from BL Arundel 157, f. 10

Miniature of the Death of Judas and the Flagellation of Christ, as part of a cycle of Christological images. Image taken from f. 10 of Psalter, including a calendar (ff. 13-18v). Written in Latin.

King Edward III from BL Harley 5233, f. 11

Historiated initial with king Edward III (r. 1327-1377) combined with a full foliate bar border at the beginning of his statutes. Image taken from f. 11 of Nova Statuta (index Statuta Angliae, Statute book, Sta... More

Nureddin, Sultan of Damascus from BL YT 12, f. 132

Historiated initial 'R'(eines) with a mail-coated Nureddin, the Sultan of Damascus, with bare legs and an open helmet, fleeing on horseback with a foal underfoot from two knights (Godfrey Martel and Hugh de Lu... More

Frog from BL Sloane 4016, f. 81

Detail of a miniature of a frog. Image taken from f. 81 of Herbal. Written in Latin.

Pen-flourished initial from BL Harley 3355, f. 10

Pen-flourished initial 'D' with floral motifs. Image taken from f. 10 of Religious Poems, with an index of first lines (ff. 2-8) (index Poemata Varia Italice). Written in Italian.

Assumption of the Virgin from BL Add 39636, f. 1, f. 1

Historiated initial 'O' of the Assumption of the Virgin. The Madonna, seated in a mandorla supported by four angels, gives her girdle to Thomas. In the foreground are the other eleven Apostles. Image taken from... More

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2700, ff. 1v-2

Large foliate initial 'O' in red, partly original and partly restored by Bartolomeo Sanvito. Image taken from ff. 1v-2 of Epigrams (index Epigrammatum), imperfect. Written in Latin.

Rabbis at Benei Braq from BL Add 14761, f. 31v

Historiated initial-word panel: ~Ma'aseh~, at the beginning of the account of the five rabbis at Benei Braq. The five rabbis are in the windows of a building; their pupils are knocking on the door. Full foliate... More

Decorated initial from BL Harley 3062, f. 1

Decorated initial 'P'(opulus) at the beginning of Usuardus's Martirology. Image taken from f. 1 of Martyrology (index Martirologium), imperfect at the end. Written in Latin.

Donkey from BL Sloane 4016, f. 8

Detail of a miniature of a donkey. Image taken from f. 8 of Herbal. Written in Latin.

St. Augustine discussing with Simplicianus about the Trinity; St. Augu...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated medieval manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description The concept of the Trinity is a central doctrine of Christianity that refer... More

Fox from BL Royal 12 F XIII, f. 26v

Detail of a miniature of birds and a fox pretending to be dead, in the upper register, and a fox with a bird in its mouth, in the lower register. Image taken from f. 26v of Bestiary (ff. 3-141), Lapidary (ff. 1... More

Carmina figurata of a hybrid from BL Add 26878, f. 199

Carmina figurata of a hybrid, at parashat matot (Num. 30:2-32:42). Image taken from f. 199 of Pentateuch with Targum Onkelos and Rashi's commentary (ff. 1-272), Five Scrolls (Hamesh megillot; ff. 273-311v) and ... More

Table and illuminated initial from BL Arundel 356, ff. 37v-38

Table with arcades, and illuminated initial 'L'(una) in Hermann of Reichenau's Computus. Image taken from ff. 37v-38 of Various lunar and astronomical tables and tracts, including Computus, a calendar and diagr... More

Virgin Mary from BL YT 13, f. 165v

Bas-de-page scene of the Virgin Mary reviving the man and his wife and giving the man a cross, with a caption reading, ‘Ci sunt r[e]suscitez de mort a vie lo[m]me et sa fe[m]me p[ar] v[er]tu de la croiz q[ue] n... More

Virgin Mary and the devil from BL YT 13, f. 155v

Bas-de-page scene of the Virgin Mary pulling on the horns of a vanquished devil, while on the right, an angel holds a rescued soul, with a caption reading, ‘Cy n[ost]re dame tout le deable un alme.’ Image taken... More

Virgin Mary from BL YT 13, f. 152v

Bas-de-page scene of the Virgin Mary rescuing a woman whom the devil had tried to drown, with a caption reading, ‘Cy reconforte n[ost]re dame une pecheresce encu[m]bre du deable.’ Image taken from f. 152v of Bo... More

Puzzle initial from BL Lansdowne 460, f. 191v

Puzzle initial 'A'(dorna) with penwork floral decoration. Image taken from f. 191v of Antiphoner (index antiphonal, antiphonary). Written in Latin.

Wolf from BL Royal 12 C XIX, f. 19

Detail of a miniature of a wolf approaching a sheepfold. Image taken from f. 19 of Bestiary, and various theological texts, e.g., Isidore of Seville, Imago Mundi. Written in Latin.

Sheep from BL Sloane 3544, f. 16

Detail of a miniature of sheep. Image taken from f. 16 of Bestiary. Written in Latin.

Detail from BL Lansdowne 460, f. 173v

Detail of puzzle initial 'D'(uem) with penwork decoration. Image taken from f. 173v of Antiphoner (index antiphonal, antiphonary). Written in Latin.

Mark the Evangelist from BL YT 5, f. 12

Detail of a miniature of Mark reading a book and holding spectacles to his eyes, his evangelist symbol, the lion, observes, at the beginning of Mark's Gospel. Image taken from f. 12 of Book of Hours, Use of Rom... More

Resurrection from BL Sloane 3451, f. 68

Detail of a drawing of the Resurrection, with angels. Image taken from f. 68 of Speculum humanae salvationis, with tabula, prohemium, and 45 chapters. Written in Latin.

Puzzle initial from BL Eg 3271, f. 8

Flourished puzzle initial 'B'(eatus), at the beginning of the Breviary. Image taken from f. 8 of Breviary, Brigittine use. Written in Latin.

Decorated initial from BL Harley 2475, f. 122

Decorated initial 'O'(mnes) with foliate extensions. Image taken from f. 122 of Vita Terentii (ff. 1-2); Comoediae (index Comedies) (ff. 2-121v); Catilina, Jugurtha (ff. 122-198); De re militari (ff. 218-265v).... More

Animals from BL Sloane 4016, f. 50

Miniature of a lion, a leopard, a rabbit, and an elephant. Image taken from f. 50 of Herbal. Written in Latin.

Four elements from BL YT 19, f. 28

Detail of a miniature of the four elements, with a sick man and a physician holding up a bottle, and a decorated initial 'C'(hi), in Brunetto Latini's Le Livre du Trésor. Image taken from f. 28 of Li Livres dou... More

Historiated initial-word panel from BL Add 22413, f. 148

Detail: historiated initial-word panel of a man holding a pitcher and a cup, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Simhat Torah (Davidson vol. 1, no. 8400). Image taken from f. 148 of Festival prayer book f... More

St. Pachomius orders a bishop to build a church

Public domain reproduction of illuminated medieval manuscript page, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Manuscript Leaf with the Last Judgment, from a Book of Hours

Public domain photo of a 3d object, France, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Lactantius from BL Harley 3057, f. 5v

Detail of historiated initial 'M'(agno) with author portrait (Lactantius) at the beginning of the text. Image taken from f. 5v of Divinae institutiones (ff. 5v-108); De ira Dei (ff. 108v-118); De opificio Dei (... More

Manuscript, tempera - miniature, medieval manuscript

Public domain reproduction of illuminated book page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.

Christ on the Road to Emmaus from BL Add 21412, ff. 95-97, f. 97

Miniature of Christ appearing to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (at right of image). Image taken from f. 97 of Cuttings from a liturgical manuscript. Written in Latin.

Madonna: Mary enthroned, holding the Christ child; an angel playing a ...

Public domain reproduction of illuminated manuscript page, 14ht-15th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description. The image of Mary holding the Christ Child is a common depiction... More

John the Baptist from BL Stowe 12, f. 257

Detail of an historiated initial 'D' of John the Baptist, holding the Agnus Dei. Image taken from f. 257 of Breviary, Use of Sarum with Norwich variants ('The Stowe Breviary'). Written in Latin.

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem from BL Add 18196, ff. 87-89, f. 88

Miniature of Christ's Entry into Jerusalem and an initial letter 'D'. Image taken from f. 88 of Cuttings from Missals of Innocent X.

Dragon and woman in bed from BL Royal 19 B XV, f. 21

Detail of a miniature of the dragon, the woman in bed, and her child being caught up to heaven. Image taken from f. 21 of Apocalypse, with commentary (The 'Queen Mary Apocalypse'), with the prologue of Gilbert ... More

Judgement of Paris from BL Royal 6 E IX, f. 22

Miniature of the Judgement of Paris, with Pallas Athena, Juno and Venus sitting at a table, and Paris giving an olive branch to Venus. Image taken from f. 22 of Address in verse to Robert of Anjou, King of Napl... More