JumblePublishingThis smiling echeneis looks like it is pushing the ship rather than holding it back. It is from a 13th century French version of "Liber de natura rerum". #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis
This medieval illustrator chose to give the echeneis feet, emphasising the amphibian quality with the colour and shape of the head. The illustration is in from a German version of the "Physiologus", 1300-1320. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis
The echeneis was described as being a fish "half a foot in length" but otherwise was left to the illustrator's imagination. The illustrator of Ann Walsh's bestiary (1400-1425) went for generic fish as in this image. #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis
The medieval echeneis was a fish that clung to ships and slowed their passage and was found in the Indian Ocean. This fish and frustrated sailor are from the Bestiare of Pierre de Beauvais (13th century). #medievalmanuscripts #medievalbeasts #echeneis
Another technique medieval illustrators used to produce the glow of a hercinia was to give it a gilt background as in this image from a 13th century Second Family English bestiary. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia
Medieval illustrators often used gilt (or white) to show the glow of a hercinia as in this lovely image from the Worksop Bestiary, c1185. #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia
The medieval hercinia was said to act as a beacon in the dark because it glowed so brightly. This glowing hercinia is from a 13th century "Liber de naturis bestiarum". #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia
This week's medieval beast is the hercinia which is described as a bird with glowing feathers. This hercinia is from an early edition of "L'Acerba etas" by Cecco d'Ascoli (1257-1327). #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia
This week's medieval beast is the hercinia which is described as a bird with glowing feathers. This hercinia is from an early edition of "L'Acerba etas" by Cecco d'Ascoli (1257-1327). #medievalbeasts #medievalmanuscripts #hercinia
Hidden GemsThe gold-leaf E unfurls across the parchment, its tendrils framing Ezekiel’s vision of winged creatures with four distinct faces. This initial not only marks the text but encodes the Evangelists’ symbols, guiding Carthusian monks through layered meaning.
How does the interplay of red, blue, and gold direct the reader’s eye through the prophet’s revelation?
#MedievalManuscripts #IlluminatedInitials #ClevelandMuseumo
https://clevelandart.org/art/1959.272
