Famous Illuminated Manuscripts

The most celebrated painted books of the Middle Ages, one page from each, chosen so you can look closely at the gold, the knotwork and the tiny painted faces. The gallery runs roughly in date order, from a purple Greek Genesis of the 6th century through the gospel books of Ireland and Northumbria, Carolingian and Ottonian gold, a Spanish Apocalypse, a Bohemian giant and a Hebrew Haggadah, to the luxury books of hours made for French dukes, queens and Flemish courts. Each caption names the manuscript, when it was made and where it is kept today, then points to what to look for on the page shown. Every book here was written and painted by hand; scrolls, unillustrated codices and early printed books are left for another gallery.