Book Series The Illustrated Beatus, vol. 4

The Illustrated Beatus: The Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries

John Williams

  • Pages: 356 p.
  • Size:235 x 335 mm
  • Language(s):English
  • Publication Year:2002


Out of Print
  • € 125,00 EXCL. VAT RETAIL PRICE
  • ISBN: 978-0-905203-94-2
  • Hardback
  • Out of Print


This is the fourth in the series of catalogues that present detailed descriptions and complete cycles of illustrations of all existing manuscripts of the Commentary on the Apocalypse written by the eight-century Spanish monk Beatus.

Review(s)

"These volumes are produced, as one would confidently expect from Harvey Miller Publishers, to a very high standard... John Williams makes a substantial contribution to an overdue appreciation of the creative achieve- ment of the kingdoms of Northern Spain in the Early Middle Ages."  (Times Literary Supplement)

"This is a book that every specialist and every research lirary must own."      (L.G. Freeman in American Academy of Reasearch Historians on Medieval Spain Newsletter)

"The present volume reproduces six copies (Osma, Turin, Silos, Corsini, León and Berlin) made in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. It maintains the quality standards set in the first three volumes, including informative background material Williams has heretofore provided. Many of the illustrations are drawn from manuscripts that have never before been published. It offers rich insights into the art and life of these centuries, extraordinarily valuable for historians of art and theology, and is strongly recommended."    
(J. F. Powers in Choice)

Summary

This is the fourth in the series of catalogues that present detailed descriptions and complete cycles of illustrations of all existing manuscripts of the Commentary on the Apocalypse written by the eight-century Spanish monk Beatus. The entire corpus, which spans the ninth to the thirteenth century, constitutes the greatest single tradition of Apocalyptic imagery in the Middle Ages. The manuscripts catalogued here are from the eleventh and twelfth centuries: the Silos Beatus in London; the Corsini Beatus in Rome;the Turin Beatus; the Osma Beatus; the Léon Fragment and the Berlin Beatus. All illustrations in these six manuscripts are reproduced, and each catalogue entry discusses the location of production, the work of the outstanding illuminators and scribes, as well as details of codicology. A short introduction places the manuscripts in their historical context and analyses the style of miniatures. The volume includes an exhaustive Bibliography, relevant Tables, and Index.