The Morgan Beatus

Spain, tenth century
Visigothic script

Pierpont Morgan Library, New York NY
Ms. 644

Date of Publication of the Facsimile: 1991
Publisher: G. Braziller, New York, in assocation with the Pierpont Morgan Library

This is not a full facsimile, but it reproduces all the illuminations in this manuscript of the Commentary on the Apocalypse by the eighth-century Spanish monk Beatus -- a rather sombre treatise stressing the tribulations of the end of time and the terror of the final day of reckoning.

A partial facsimile of an illuminated manuscript such as this makes the power and symbolism of the striking artwork available to a greater public. On the other hand, the visual impact of such a particular presentation is such that one tends to forget the importance of the text.

Some of the grander scenes depicted in this manuscript fill up both sides of an opening, such as The Sealing of the Elect shown here.

For a website containing images of an entire Beatus Apocalypse, please visit http://beatus.saint-sever.fr.

fol. 5v (48k)	fol. 236v (58k)
fol. 237 (53k)	fol. 239 (63k)

fols. 117v-118
(96k)

Trier Apocalypse

Apocalypse of Saint-Sever

Home