Tags
Aberdeen Bestiary, Ashmole Bestiary, Bestiary, Book of Hours, Book of Kells, illuminated manuscript, Insular art, Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
Illumination from the Ashmole Bestiary, Monoceros and Bear (folio 21r)
Dear readers,
I was away last weekend (16th & 17th February), and it slowed me down. Moreover, there was an extraordinary painting I wanted to discuss while retrieving and preparing posts on another form of illuminated manuscripts: bestiaries.
We have seen Books of Hours and I provided a list of other illuminated manuscripts, most of which are liturgical and / or devotional.
However, we will now be looking at allegories called Bestiaries. In Bestiaries, an animal stands for jealousy, virginity, evil, aspects of love, depending on the subject of the masnuscripts.
So there are areas of illuminated manuscripts
- Books of Hours: Les Très Riches Heures, etc. (Flemish, 1415-1416);
- liturgical and devotional books, The Book of Kells, a gospel book (Insular art [British Isles], 800s),;
- allegories, one of which depicts aspects of love.
We will concentrate on
- the Aberdeen Bestiary, (12th century), Insular art [Celtic, mostly]),
- the Ashmole Bestiary (12th and 13th century, English) and
- Richard de Fournival‘s “Bestiaire d’Amour“ (Love Bestiary, 13th century, France).
We already have a post on the Phœnix (listed below) and a very short post on the Aberdeen Bestiary, the richest illuminated bestiary, and at the same time we will look at the history of printing and the history of books. We know that illuminations became our illustrations, common in children’s literature. We also know that medieval calligraphy gave us many of the fonts we still use, but there are other elements.
However, expect surprises.
I may not be able to post a blog on Friday and Saturday of this week, the 22nd and the 23rd. My cataracts must be removed. The left eye will be operated on this Friday.
CLOSELY RELATED ARTICLES From Bestiaries to… Harry Potter (29 October 2011) The Phœnix: on the Importance of Symbols and Myths (2 February 2012) The Dragon East & West (4 February 2012)* * *
Micheline Walker@
February 20, 2013
WordPress
Ashmole Bestiary, The Unicorn
(Please click on the picture to enlarge it.)
Related articles
- Monsters By Email – A New Level of Bestiary (rpg-creatures.blogspot.com)
- The Book of Barely Imagined Beings (callumjhackett.com)
- From Bestiaries to… Harry Potter (michelinewalker.com)
- The Phœnix: on the Importance of Symbols and Myths (michelinewalker.com)
- The Dragon East & West (michelinewalker.com)
- The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (michelinewalker.com)
- Other Illuminated Manuscripts (michelinewalker.com)
- Books of Hours, a Rich Legacy (michelinewalker.com)
Dear Micheline, I hope that at the moment your eye is better now! I hope that the surgery is successful.
My sister was born blind, after several surgeries, now can see. My sister wears glasses, but can see! Thank God!
Be blessed with good health, dear Micheline. Take care of your eyes!
Big hugs, much love, Stefania!
The surgery was successful. In fact, I will no longer have to wear glasses. But I have to stay away from the computer as much as possible for about a week. But it will soon be over.
Big hugs and love,
Dear Stefania, thank you,
Big hugs and love,
Your friend,
Micheline
Yes, your eyesight will get as good as new from all I hear everywhere. My very best wishes, dear Micheline, take good care of you, Lou.
Dear Lou,
I truly appreciate your best wishes. It may be a few days before I can write posts again, but at long last I will be able to see what I am writing.
Thank you Lou and take care,
Micheline
All the best with your cataract surgery. I am sure you will be very pleased with the results. Don’t rush back to your blogging but take time to make sure your eye is well cared for.
Thank you Gallivanta,
I won’t rush back to blogging. That could jeopardize the success of the surgery.
It will be so enjoyable to see clearly again.
Dear Gallivanta, thank you,
Micheline
All the very best with the surgery, Micheline. My older brother had both eyes done last year. Now he has (what he says is) perfect vision… Like you, the surgeries were about a week or two apart, which gave him peace of mind and an enormous hope of being able to see the world clearly after years of poor sight. Indeed, his wish was granted…
Micheline, I meant to let you know that I’ve ‘tagged’ you….
http://abcofspiritalk.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/thank-you-xoxoxo/
Thank you for tagging me. This should be a pleasant adventure.
I look forward to seeing well again.
At times, blogging is demanding, but I feel I’m in touch with a charming community.
I truly appreciate your tagging me.
My best,
Micheline xoxoxo
It will be lovely to see clearly again. With cataracts, one lives in a cloud.
I thank you for your good wishes.
Love,
Micheline xoxoxo
Ah, I too have been looking at bestiaries, Michelle. What a world it must of been with all these creatures thought to exist! My favourite id the bishop-fish.
These bestiaries are marvellous. They have magnificent illuminations. They are childlike and very colourful. We’re very fortunate to be able to find images on the internet. It’s not the same as seeing the real manuscripts, but one does not have to leave home and there are people who can’t leave home.
In Reynard the Fox, the Pope is a camel. He’s in the same category as the bishop-fish. I love it!
Thank you Kate.
Best regards,
Micheline
Dear Micheline,
Good luck with your cataract surgery. I have a friend who just had that done, and she is thrilled with the results!
Dear Naomi,
I thank you for your kind words. I also heard that it is a simple procedure. It will be so nice to see better. It just occurred to me that reading and writing blogs will be easier.
Take good care of yourself,
Micheline.