stygiansulfur:

mediumaevum:

Lindisfarne Gospels 

This is one of the very few pages on which Eadfrith’s original 7th century script can be admired almost entirely free of the gloss added by Aldred in the 10th century. Clear and black, very assured and regular in form, this script, designed for formal use, is known technically as insular majuscule. The page gives details of particular passages in St John which are to be read on specific feast days.

My single biggest ‘WHY DID I NOT BUY THAT AT THE TIME’ regret involves not purchasing the rug the British Library produced based on the pattern of one of the carpet pages from the Lindisfarne Gospels.

jothelibrarian:

Pretty medieval manuscript of the day is a full page illustration of God, surrounded by the symbols of the evangelists.

Image source: New York Public Library MS. MA.54. Image believed to be in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

mediumaevum:

September

high-res

The undisputed masterpiece of Gothic illumination is the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (or simply Très Riches Heures), executed mainly by the Dutch Limbourg Brothers working in Paris. The twelve “calendar illustrations” are its most famous pages. 

jothelibrarian:

Pretty medieval manuscript of the day depicts men playing dice. The illustration accompanies a calendar, which is the first part of a Book of Hours. According to the Walters Museum:

“Dice players make an unexpected appearance in this calendar, for gambling is a rare theme for January. They are playing “raffle,” a game won by rolling three matching numbers at once, similar to modern slot machines. There seems to be some debate over the winning throw of three 3s, for both players point at the dice, but the peddlar’s smile suggests he has the upper hand over his disgruntled wealthy opponent. Perhaps he is using weighted dice, a common trick still used today.”

I think the clothing the men wear in this scene is fascinating. There is no doubting anyone’s social status! The peddlar, hatless and mussed of hair, has torn breeches and no stockings. In short sleeves, carrying all his wordly goods on his back, he stands at the table whilst his wealthy ermine-clad opponents sit.

Image source: Walters Museum MS W449. Creative Commons licensed via Wikimedia Commons.

Master Jean de Mauléon. Playing Dice (c.1524)

ada-veen:

loieloie:

from the aberdeen bestiary - sad little night owl

original text translation: “this bird loves the darkness and lives in ruined buildings”

a bird both distressed and distressing

(via modernfoppery)

demonagerie:

San Marino, Huntington Library, HM 268 , f. 8v (Narcissus at the well - and in it, too). John Lydgate, Fall of Princes. England, mid-15th century.

(via cabinet-de-curiosites)

jothelibrarian:

Pretty medieval manuscript of the day depicts the splendour of the word of Christ. The lovely border includes a pea motif, with lovely flowers and juicy peas bursting from lush green pods. If only the peas in my garden looked like this!

Image source: New York Public Library MS MA 31. Image believed to be in the public domain.

Leaf with historiated initial of the Resurrection (1475-1499)

littlehistorythings:

I thoroughly recommend Got Medieval’s ‘Mmm…Marginalia’ page. Dogs. Attacking a castle. Filled with bunnies.

aubade:

Angels lookin’ non-plussed about… harps? scales?, from the Escorial Beatus, a 10th century illuminated manuscript of the Commentary on the Apocalypse by Beatus of Liébana.