Research Guides: Facsimiles of Medieval Manuscripts and Incunabula: Apocalypses & Beatus

Apocalypses & Beatus

The vivid imagery of the Apocalypse, or the Book of Revelation - the last book of the New Testament - was a popular source of inspiration for medieval illuminators. According to tradition, the Book of Revelation was written by John the Evangelist while he was exiled on the island of Patmos. It includes an address to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor as well as prophetic visions of the Second Coming of Christ. Below are some of the famous Apocalypses which FSU Special Collections & Archives has facsimile editions of.

(Image credit: Morgan Beatus)

Apocalypse of 1313
Call Number: Special Coll Vault -- ND3361.R52 A662 2008
Publication Date: France, circa 1313
Paris, Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Fr.13096

The Apocalypse of 1313 is a medieval illuminated Apocalypse manuscript that was signed and dated by its illuminator, Colin Chadewe. Its visual design is a blending of the Beatus Apocalypse and the English Apocalypse traditions.

French Commentary
Biblia Pauperum : Apocalypsis
Call Number: Special Coll Rare (double oversize) -- BT225.B5 1978
Publication Date: Germany, mid-14th century
Weimar, Zentralbibliothek der Deutschen Klassik, Fol. max. 4

Biblia Pauperum means Paupers’ Bible and refers to a type of picture bible that used visual typological comparisons to teach lessons. They are similar to Bible moralisée but use less text and are more commonly written in vernacular languages. The Biblia Pauperum was a popular genre of printed and block-books.

High Quality Color Facsimile with German Commentary
Bodleian Apocalypse
Call Number: Special Coll Vault -- BS2822.5.R7
Publication Date: Englad, circa 1250
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Auct D.4.17

An apocalypse picture book that served as a model for future block books.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Introduction
Cloisters Apocalypse
Call Number: Special Coll Rare -- BS2822.5.C58 D48 1971 v. 1-2
Publication Date: France, circa 1330
New York City, Metropolitan Museum of Art, MS 68.174

The Cloisters Apocalypse is a medieval Apocalypse manuscript created in Normandy around the year 1330. Traces of a coat of arms in the manuscript suggest that its patron was associated with the de Montigny family.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Commentary
Douce Apocalypse
Call Number: Special Coll Vault (oversize) -- ND3361.R52 B63 1981 v. 1-2
Publication Date: England, circa 1272
Oxford, Bodlein Library, MS Douce 180

High Quality Color Facsimile with German Commentary
Estense Apocalypse
Call Number: Special Coll Rare (oversize) -- ND3361.R52 B535 1998 v. 1-2
Publication Date: Netherlands or Germany, circa 1460
Modena, Biblioteca Estense Universitaria, D.5.22

The Estense Apocalypse is a printed block-book from circa 1460, whose images were hand colored. Block-books were printed from a technique where the whole mise-en-page, text and image, was made in woodcut as a potentially cheaper alternative to using typeset. The imagery of the Estense Apocalypse is similar to the early 15th-century, Flemish school and contemporary German Bibliae Pauperum.

High Quality Color Facsimile with Italian Commentary
Gerona Beatus
Call Number: Special Coll Rare (oversize) -- BS2825.A2 B37 1975 v. 1-2
Publication Date: Spain, 10th century
Gerona, Museu de la Catedral de Girona, MS 7

The Gerona Beatus was commissioned by Abbot Dominicus according to an inscription at the end of the book. The manuscript includes the commentary on the Apocalypse by Beatus of Liébana and Jerome’s commentary on the Book of Daniel. It is one of the most richly illuminated Beatus Apocalypses.

High Quality Color Facsimile
Color and Black and White Facsimile with English Commentary
Getty Apocalypse Manuscript
Call Number: Special Coll Rare (oversize) -- ND3361.R52 D954 2011
Publication Date: England, mid 13th century
Malibu, The J. Paul Getty Museum, MS Ludwig III 1

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Commentary
Lambeth Apocalypse
Call Number: Special Coll Vault -- ND3361.R52 L36 1990 v. 1-2
Publication Date: England, circa 1260-75
London, Lambeth Palace Library, MS 209

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Commentary
Manchester Beatus: Beato de Liébana
Call Number: Special Coll Vault (double oversize) -- ND3361.R52B432 2001 v. 1-2
Publication Date: Spain, 12th century
Manchester, John Rylands University Library, Latin MS 8

High Quality Color Facsimile with Spanish Commentary
Morgan Beatus: A Spanish Apocalypse
Call Number: Special Coll Rare (oversize) -- ND3361.R52 B436 1991
Publication Date: Spain, circa 940-45
New York City, Pierpoint Morgan Library, MS M. 644

The Morgan Beatus includes Evangelist portraits, Beatus’s commentary on the Apocalypse, excerpts from Isidore of Seville, Jerome’s commentary on the Book of Daniel, and a final exposition of the Apocalypse. Its brightly saturated colors, schematic figures and shapes, and use of horizontal color bands are some of the features of the Spanish style of manuscript illumination.

High Quality Color Facsimile
Trier Apocalypse
Call Number: Special Coll Rare -- BS2822.5.T7 2001
Publication Date: France, circa 800
Trier, Stadtbibliothek, Codex 31

High Quality Color Facsimile with German Commentary
Bamberg Apocalypse
Call Number: FSU STROZIER, Special Coll Rare (oversize) -- ND3361.R52 B358 1921
Publication Date: Ottonian Empire, 11th century
Bamberg, Bamberg State Library, Msc.Bibl.140

The Bamberg Apocalypse was probably made at Reichenau, the Ottonian center for manuscript production, for Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. It was inherited by Henry II, who donated it to the religious community he founded in Bamberg.

Black and White Partial Facsimile with German Introduction
Beatus de Saint-Sever
Call Number: FSU STROZIER, Special Coll Rare (oversize) -- ND3361.R5 M6 1943
Publication Date: France, 11th Century
Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, MS lat. 8878

The Saint-Sever Beatus is a French illuminated manuscript of the Apocalypse and commentary by Beatus of Liébana. It was produced at Saint-Sever Abbey under Abbot Gregori de Montaner.

Color Unbound Plates with French Introduction

Additional Resources

The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages
Call Number: FSU STROZIER LIBRARY General Collection 2nd Floor -- BS2825.2.A833 1992
The Seven Seals of the Apocalypse : Medieval Texts in Translation
Call Number: FSU STROZIER LIBRARY General Collection 2nd Floor -- BS2825.52.S4813 2009