A Retroactive Glimpse of Time

Labyrinth


Note. Folio 6 labyrinth from folios 5v-217v, showing the illuminated decoration (British Library, n.d.-a) Copyright The British Library


The collection chosen is from the British Library Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts. The collections titles are:

A.    Antiphoner

B.      Commentary on the Apocalypse (The 'Silos Apocalypse'; 'Silos Beatus') (New Testament, Bible)

C.      Excerpts from the Etymologies including a table of kinship

D.      Commentary on Daniel

E.       Miscellaneous texts, some attributed to Jerome, Gregory and Augustine

Folios: 

A: 1-4v, B: 5v-217v, C: 218-219v, D: 220r-266r, E: 268r-279v


The artifacts within this collection originated from Northern Spain from the 4th quarter of the 10th

Century. The artifacts are in Latin and consists of illuminated religious commentary. The collection shows an artistic interpretation of the bible from the perspective of the Medieval times. Within each illumination you will find an attempt to describe visually that which is written in the bible. The posture of the figures and facial expression truly define the parabolic messages that are similar to the visions described in the book Revelation. Even though this is from the perspective of the Medieval times, it was the best form of text to translate words visually.

The artifacts in the collection consists codices that are compiled together even though they were not illuminated at the same time. The artifacts within the collection are arranged by their folio number

 

References 

British Library: Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts (n.d.-a), Labyrinth [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMIN.ASP?Size=mid&IllID=60046

British Library: Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts (n.d.-b), Detailed record for Additional 11695. Retrieved from https://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=8157&CollID=27&NStart=11695

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