Manuscripts : Apocalypse

Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Apocalypse, pictures only, inscribed with legends. Produced in the first third of the 14th century in Northern France. This is one of four manuscripts which constitute the 'first family' of illustrated Apocalypses in M. Delisle's classification: the other three being (1) MS. Fr. 403, Paris Bibl. Nat.; (2) Bodley Auct. D. 4. 17, reproduced by H. O. Coxe for the Roxburghe Club in 1876; (3) a manuscript owned by M. le Vicomte Blin de Bourdon, of which two pages are reproduced by MM. Delisle and Meyer as plates ii and iii of the appendix to their reproduction of the Paris MS. Fr. 403. This first family is distinguished from others by its inclusion of a series of subjects from the life of St. John at the beginning and end of the Apocalypse, and of two pictures illustrating the miracles and triumphs of Antichrist. The resemblance between our manuscript and that in the Bodleian extends, as M. Delisle says, to the most minute details, e. g. the armorial bearings emblazoned on flags, shields, etc. The number of figures in the groups is uniformly identical in both. Thc chief differences appear in thc treatment of armour and of architecture: in these two respects the artist has introduced the styles of his own day. Pale purples, reds, and greens are the prevailing colours: faces are softly drawn and stippled. The grounds are left plain throughout.</p>