Text on a comet; 'Remember that there be in hell' from BL Add 60577, f...
Text page containing the end of a Latin prose text about a comet described by 'Clerkys of Oxenforde', and a Middle English poem added by William Wey, beginning 'Remember that there be in hell'. Image taken from... More
Poem addressed to William Waynflete from BL Add 60577, f. 22v
Text page containing the beginning of a poem addressed to William Waynflete (b. c. 1400, d. 1486). Image taken from f. 22v of Miscellany, including an excerpt from a Latin herbal, excerpt from a Latin lapidary,... More
Johann Sadeler I - Greek Phyllis and Aristotle
Public domain image of a 16th-17th-century print, mannerism, free to use, no copyright restrictions - Picryl description.
The transitory world from BL Add 60577, f. 53v
Text page containing the end of a Middle English verse translation of a Latin text on the transitory world. Image taken from f. 53v of Miscellany, including an excerpt from a Latin herbal, excerpt from a Latin ... More
Middle English sermon from BL Add 60577, f. 54
Text page containing the beginning of a Middle English verse sermon on Psalm 23:3-4, beginning 'Lystenythe a while and thenke ye nott longe'. Image taken from f. 54 of Miscellany, including an excerpt from a La... More
Texts on the transitory world from BL Add 60577, f. 53
Text page containing the end of a Latin poem on the transitory world, and the opening of its Middle English verse translation, which begins 'Lorde wherto ys this worlde soo gaye '. Image taken from f. 53 of Mis... More
Front pastedown from BL Add 60577, f. i verso
The front pastedown of the manuscript, containing many fragments of verse and proverbs in Middle English and Latin. Image taken from f. i verso of Miscellany, including an excerpt from a Latin herbal, excerpt f... More
Latin proverbs; 'Lyke as women have facis' from BL Add 60577, f. 45v
Text page containing many Latin proverbs and, at the bottom, a Middle English poem added by William Wey, beginning 'Lyke as women have facis'. Image taken from f. 45v of Miscellany, including an excerpt from a ... More
Text page from BL Add 60577, f. 1
Text page containing verse and proverbs in Latin and English. Image taken from f. 1 of Miscellany, including an excerpt from a Latin herbal, excerpt from a Latin lapidary, Secretum, poem addressed to William Wa... More
Zoroaster from BL YT 28, f. 51 - Public domain dedication image
Detail of a mminiature of Zoroaster with two demons, from Pseudo-Aristotle's Secreta secretorum. Image taken from f. 51 of Secreta secretorum (ff. 1-43); Il Tesoro (translation of Li Livres dou Tresor) (ff. 43v... More
The tomb of Aristotle from BL Add 24189, f. 6v
Miniature of the tomb of Aristotle on an island, in front of the town of Stagira, with pilgrims making offerings on an altar in the foreground. In the background is a ruined city, representing Troy. Image taken... More
Trinity and Virgin and Child from BL Harley 4381, f. 3
Miniature of the Trinity and the Virgin Mary flanked by saints, with famous historical persons (including Avicen, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Seneca, Pythagoras, Archimedes, Ptolemy, etc.) below, and in the cor... More
Headpiece from BL Sloane 745, f. 2
Patterned headpiece. Image taken from f. 2 of Excerpts from Aristotle veterinaria. Written in Greek. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of B... More
Heraldry and signatures from BL Arundel 59, f. 1
The arms of Thomas Wall, Windsor herald, in the right margin, the signature of Jo Starkey, in the upper margin, that of Sir Robert Cotton ('Robert Cotton Bruceaus') with the date 1610 in the lower margin. Image... More
Coloured drawing from BL Harley 4399, f. 19v
Coloured drawing of Aristotle admonishing Wisdom (index Sagesse). Image taken from f. 19v of Pèlerinage de vie humaine (index Pelerinage de vie humaine, Pilgrimage of the life of man). Written in French. The "... More
Aristotle and Alexander from BL Royal 20 A V, f. 8
Detail of a miniature of Aristotle instructing Alexander, who holds a book covered with figures. Image taken from f. 8 of Roman d'Alexandre en Prose, imperfect at the end (index Le Livre et la vraye hystoire du... More
Queen Olympias and Aristotle from BL Harley 4979, f. 75v
Miniature of Queen Olympias and Aristotle receiving a letter from Alexander. Image taken from f. 75v of Roman d'Alexandre (index Romance of Alexander), in prose, with lacunae. Written in French. The "BL Harley... More
Aristotle from BL Eg 737, f. 1 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Miniature of Aristotle teaching his pupil Alexander the Great. Image taken from f. 1 of Les Ethiques d'Aristote. Written in French. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Eger... More
Decorated line-filler and initials from BL Harley 5697, f. 71v
Decorated line-filler and initials, and figure of division. Image taken from f. 71v of Commentaries on Aristotle's 'Organon' (ff. 1-103) and Hermogenes (ff. 117-132); 'Institutio physica' (ff. 135-138v). Writte... More
Initial words from BL Add 14763, f. 134
Initial words decorated with blue and red flourishing. Image taken from f. 134 of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimonides in Samuel ibn Tibbon's Hebrew transla... More
Division of the Red Sea from BL Add 14763, f. 135
Detail of a page: illustration of the explanation about the division of the Red Sea, at chapter 5 of Maimonides' commentary on tractate Avot of the Mishnah: 'They [the waters] were divided into many paths equal... More
Diagram from BL Add 14763, f. 190v
Diagram of the four main winds, in Aristotle's Meteorology. Image taken from f. 190v of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimonides in Samuel ibn Tibbon's Hebrew t... More
Decorated panel and border from BL Add 14763, f. 198v
Decorated panel around the initial words of the Hebrew translation of al-Farabi's ~Sefer hathalot ha-nimtzaot~ (The Book of Principles) and partial border in the inner margin. Image taken from f. 198v of Miscel... More
Division of the Red Sea from BL Add 14763, f. 135
Illustration of the explanation about the division of the Red Sea, at chapter 5 of Maimonides' commentary on tractate Avot of the Mishnah: 'They [the waters] were divided into many paths equal to the number of ... More
Foliate scroll from BL Add 14763, f. 167
Decorated initial-word panel and foliate scroll between the two text columns. Image taken from f. 167 of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimonides in Samuel ibn ... More
Partial border from BL Add 14763, f. 201v
Partial border between the two text columns, at the Hebrew translation of al-Farabi's ~Sefer Hathalot ha-Nimtzaot~ (The Book of Principles). Image taken from f. 201v of Miscellany of philosophical works includi... More
Decorated initial-word panel from BL Add 14763, f. 167
Detail of a page: decorated initial-word panel and foliate scroll between the two text columns. Image taken from f. 167 of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimoni... More
Decorated panel from BL Add 14763, f. 117v
Decorated panel and partial border, at the beginning of Maimonides' treatise on ~Pereq Heleq~ (the tenth chapter of the mishnaic tractate, Sanhedrin). Image taken from f. 117v of Miscellany of philosophical wor... More
Colophon from BL Add 14763, f. 160
Detail of a page: dcorated panel with foliate scroll at the closure of the text column framing the colophon of the scribe, Solomon, at the end of Samuel ibn Tibbon's ~Perush ha-milot ha-zarot~ (A glossary of fo... More
Decorated panel from BL Add 14763, f. 165v
Decorated panel around the closure of the text column, at the end of Solomon ibn Gabirol's ~Keter malkhut~ (A Crown of Kingship). Image taken from f. 165v of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. th... More
Decorated panels from BL Add 14763, f. 117
Panels decorated with foliate scrolls around the text columns, and partial border, at the end of the Guide of the Perplexed and the colophon of the scribe. Image taken from f. 117 of Miscellany of philosophical... More
Decorated panel and border from BL Add 14763, f. 163
Decorated panel around the initial words of Solomon ibn Gabirol's ~Keter malkhut~ (A Crown of Kingship) and partial border in the inner margin. Image taken from f. 163 of Miscellany of philosophical works inclu... More
Decorated panels from BL Add 14763, f. 118v
Panels decorated with foliate scrolls, at Maimonides' treatise on ~Pereq Heleq~ (the tenth chapter of the mishnaic tractate, Sanhedrin). Image taken from f. 118v of Miscellany of philosophical works including e... More
Decorated panel from BL Add 14763, f. 148
Decorated panel at the closure of a text column framing the end of Maimonides' ~Tehiyyat ha-metim~ (Epistle on the resurrection of the dead) and the colophon of the scribe. Image taken from f. 148 of Miscellany... More
Decorated panel from BL Add 14763, f. 76
Decorated panel framing the closure of the text column, at Maimonides' Guide of the Perplexed. Image taken from f. 76 of Miscellany of philosophical works including e. g. the Guide of the Perplexed by Maimonide... More
Decorated panel from BL Add 14763, f. 198
Decorated panel surrounding the closure of the text column at the end of the Hebrew translation of Aristotle's Meteorology (by Samuel ibn Tibbon). Image taken from f. 198 of Miscellany of philosophical works in... More
Decorated panel from BL Add 14763, f. 160
Decorated panel with foliate scroll at the closure of the text column framing the colophon of the scribe, Solomon, at the end of Samuel ibn Tibbon's ~Perush ha-milot ha-zarot~ (A glossary of foreign terms). Ima... More
Decorated initial from BL Sloane 1610, f. 2
Decorated initial 'M'(edicina) at the beginning of a medical miscellany. Image taken from f. 2 of Medical miscellany, the Ars medicine, including portions of the Secretum secretorum (ff. 42v-43v), with texts he... More
Crowned woman from BL Harley 3487, f. 16v
Detail of historiated initial 'Q'(uoniam) with a crowned woman holding a flowering sceptre probably representing the concept of 'Nature', and in the margin, a naked boy playing a harp, at the beginning of the t... More
Christ blessing from BL Harley 3487, f. 191
Historiated initial 'Q'(uoniam) with a soul being raised by angels and Christ blessing above. Image taken from f. 191 of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" re... More
Puzzle initial from BL Harley 4970, f. 1
Puzzle initial 'Q'(uedam) with pen-flourishing at the beginning of the text. Image taken from f. 1 of De animalibus. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscripts ... More
Seated man from BL Harley 3487, f. 39v
Historiated initial 'S' with a seated man, and on the bar border, a dog and a bird. Image taken from f. 39v of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a ... More
Decorated initial from BL Harley 6331, f. 44
Decorated initial 'V'(erus) with foliate decoration including acanthus extending into the margins in Aristotle's Physica. Image taken from f. 44 of Various works including Physica (ff. 3-55v), De somno et vigil... More
Text page with coloured initial from BL Harley 5635, f. 251
Text page with coloured initial. Image taken from f. 251 of Collection of letters and philosophical, medical, scientific, and grammatical treatises attributed to classical authors. Written in Greek. The "BL Ha... More
Decorated headpiece and initial from BL Harley 5599, f. 1
Headpiece and initial with foliate decoration. Image taken from f. 1 of Works, including 'Categoriae' (ff. 11-25v), 'Analytica priora' (ff. 35-92), 'Analytica posteriora' (ff. 92-126), 'Topica' (ff. 126-191), a... More
White vine initial from BL Harley 1322, f. 1
White vine initial 'A'(ristotilis) with bird intertwined with the letter at the beginning of the preface. Image taken from f. 1 of Ethica (index Ethics). Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to ... More
Decorated initial from BL Arundel 299, f. 4v
Decorated initial with a deer and satyr holding a cup. Image taken from f. 4v of De generatione et corruptione (ff. 1-23); De memoria et reminiscentia (ff. 23v-26v); De sensu et sensato (ff. 27-35v); De anima (... More
Illuminated initial from BL Burn 65, f. 1
Illuminated initial 'P'(ropositum) at the beginning of Boethius's translation of Aristotle's Topica. Image taken from f. 1 of Translation of Aristotle's Topica, with glosses. Written in Latin.
Arithmetic from BL Burn 275, f. 336
Historiated initial 'I'(n) with a woman (perhaps the personification of Arithmetic) and clerks; a puzzle initial, a grotesque, a fox with a chicken and a rabbit in the margin above, and on the lower bar border,... More
Musicians from BL Burn 275, f. 359v
Historiated initial with a woman playing bells and other musicians, and in the upper border, a dog chasing a rabbit. Image taken from f. 359v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Detail: Puzzle initial from BL Arundel 383, f. 45
Puzzle initial 'F'(orma), at the beginning of Gilbertus Porretanus's Liber de sex principiis. Image taken from f. 45 of Translations of Aristotle, etc., and others, some with glosses. Written in Latin. The Aru... More
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 390v
Detail of lower bar border with different animals holding various astronomical instruments. Image taken from f. 390v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Grammar from BL Burn 275, f. 94
Initial 'Q'(uoniam) with a woman holding a flowering branch displaying the parts of speech (perhaps the personification of Grammar) and a teacher disciplining scholars; another initial decorated with foliate fo... More
Border from BL Burn 275, f. 166
Detail of lower bar border, with two hybrid creatures with swords and shields fighting. Image taken from f. 166 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Woman from BL Harley 3487, f. 211v
Historiated initial 'P'(ost) with a woman pointing to a bucket, and on the bar border, a dog, bird, and hybrid, with a queen's head in the in the upper part of the initial, and sketches for the illuminator in t... More
Marginal drawings with the monogram of the scribe from BL Burn 68, ff....
Text pages with ink drawings in the lower margin, including a decorated catchword and the monogram of the scribe John Clement. Image taken from ff. 73v-74 of Secretum secretorum. Written in Latin.
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 438v
Detail of table. Image taken from f. 438v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Puzzle initial from BL Arundel 325, f. 36
Puzzle initial 'B'(onorum), at the beginning of Aristotle's De anima. Image taken from f. 36 of De generatione et corruptione (ff. 1-23); De memoria et reminiscentia (ff. 23v-26v); De sensu et sensato (ff. 27-3... More
Christ from BL Harley 3487, f. 202
Detail of historiated initial with a seated Christ, and conjoined figures below. Image taken from f. 202 of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a col... More
Historiated initial from BL Harley 3487, f. 16v
Detail of an historiated initial 'Q'(uoniam) of a crowned king carrying a sceptre, with a nude figure playing a harp in the lower section of the initial. Image taken from f. 16v of Libri Naturales, with extensi... More
Illuminated initial and border from BL Sloane 2413, f. 1
Illuminated initial and border. Image taken from f. 1 of Secretum Secretorum. Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development of Britis... More
Historiated initial from BL Harley 3305, f. 5v
Historiated initial 'O'(mnis) with a portrait of Aristotle or Leonardo Bruno (Aretino) wearing spectacles, and, in the lower margin, the arms and initials of Iñigo Dávalos. Image taken from f. 5v of Ethica (ind... More
Teaching from BL Harley 3487, f. 116
Detail of historiated initial with a man teaching. Image taken from f. 116 of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscript... More
Historiated initial from BL Harley 3305, f. 24v
Historiated initial 'I'(gitur) in colours and gold and the beginning of the book of Aristotle. Image taken from f. 24v of Ethica (index Ethics). Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collect... More
Couple from BL Harley 3487, f. 121v
Detail of historiated initial 'G'(eneratione) with a couple in bed, and a nursemaid with an infant in a cot below, at the beginning of the third book 'On Coming Into Being and Passing Away' ('De Generatione et ... More
Alexander the Great receives instruction from Aristotle
Public domain scan of a medieval manuscript, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description.
Goat playing the violin from BL Royal 12 G V, f. 16v
Detail of a marginal drawing of a goat playing the violin. Image taken from f. 16v of Glosses to Aristotle's Physical treatises, with a table of contents. Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, ... More
Teaching from BL Burn 275, f. 184
Historiated initial with a monk teaching, and various animals on the bar borders. Image taken from f. 184 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Mermaid from BL Burn 275, f. 404
Detail of a mermaid sitting on a bar border holding her tail in one hand and a circular mirror in the other. Image taken from f. 404 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 536
Detail of table. Image taken from f. 536 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 364v
Detail of decorated initial with leaves. Image taken from f. 364v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Monk from BL Burn 275, f. 180v - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail of historiated initial with a monk teaching. Image taken from f. 180v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 47v
Detail of decorated initials, one with a dragon. Image taken from f. 47v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Astronomy from BL Burn 275, f. 390v
Historiated initial 'Q'(uidam) with students receiving instruction from a woman who gestures at the stars (perhaps the personification of Astronomy); a puzzle initial, and on the lower bar border, different ani... More
Decorated initial from BL Burn 304, f. 1
Decorated initial 'R'(everendo) at the beginning of Walter Burley's Commentary on Aristotle's Politica. Image taken from f. 1 of Commentary on Aristotle's Politica. Written in Latin.
Geometry from BL Burn 275, f. 293
Detail of a historiated initial with a woman with a set-square and dividers teaching a group of students (perhaps the personification of Geometry). Image taken from f. 293 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes fo... More
Decorated initial and border from BL Arundel 459, f. 1
Decorated initial 'A'(d), and three-sided border with a lion in the lower margin, at the beginning of Johannes de Deo's Flores legum super cavillationibus. Image taken from f. 1 of Flores legum super cavillatio... More
Puzzle initial from BL Royal 12 D III, f. 1
Puzzle initial 'D'(omino) with a partial border, at the beginning of the Secretum Secretorum. Image taken from f. 1 of Secretum Secretorum, Historia destructionis Troiae, and other texts. Written in Latin. Th... More
White vine initial from BL Harley 3270, f. 60v
White vine initial 'Q'(uoniam). Image taken from f. 60v of Ethica (index Ethics)(ff. 3-111); Aretinus' epistola ad hugonem medicum (possibly added; ff. 111-112v); Economica (index Economics)(ff. 113-132v). Writ... More
Soul being weighed from BL Harley 3487, f. 173
Historiated initial 'B'(orum) with an angel holding a scale being pulled by a devil, and a dying man surrounded by mourners in the lower register. Image taken from f. 173 of Libri Naturales, with extensive glos... More
Illuminated initial from BL Eg 2676, f. 6
Illuminated initial 'D'(eus). Image taken from f. 6 of The Secretum secretorum, imperfect, translated by Philip of Tripoli (index Philippus Tripolitanus). Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is... More
Diagrams from BL Eg 2852, f. 55
Diagrams of procedures. Image taken from f. 55 of Medical and scientific treatises, including recipes, and a dietary (ff. 100v-101); Physiognomia VII (ff. 115-126). Written in Latin and English. The Egerton Ma... More
Teacher with students from BL Royal 12 G V, f. 4
Historiated initial 'Q'(uoniam) of a teacher with students, at the beginning of the Physica. Image taken from f. 4 of Physical treatises. Written in Latin. The BL Royal Manuscript Collection, also known as the... More
Decorated initial from BL Sloane 1044, f. 115v
Decorated initial. Image taken from f. 115v of Commentary on the Ethics of Aristotle. Written in Latin. Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) was a physician and naturalist who played a crucial role in the development o... More
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 94 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail of historiated initial. Image taken from f. 94 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Detail: Border from BL Arundel 459, f. 1
Lower part of the three-sided border with a lion, at the beginning of Johannes de Deo's Flores legum super cavillationibus. Image taken from f. 1 of Flores legum super cavillationibus, Secretum secretorum, and ... More
Marginal drawings from BL Burn 275, f. 293v
Marginal drawings. Image taken from f. 293v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 94 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail of the lower bar border with a dog chasing a goat, and hanging heraldic shields. Image taken from f. 94 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Drawing of sages, prophets, and prophetesses from BL Harley 5201, f. 8...
Full-page drawing in brown ink of God the father and, below, Ptolemy, Aristotle, Sibilla, Brigida, and Reynhardus. Image taken from f. 86 of Praenosticatio Latina or Prefagium. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley... More
Monk from BL Burn 275, f. 205 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail of a historiated initial of a monk teaching. Image taken from f. 205 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Teacher from BL Burn 275, f. 288v
Detail of historiated initial with a teacher and pupils. Image taken from f. 288v of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Puzzle initial from BL Arundel 392, f. 61
Puzzle initial 'P'(rimum). Image taken from f. 61 of Topicorum, De sophisticis elenchis, Analyticorum, Analyticorum priorum, Isagoge, and other works. Written in Latin. The Arundel Manuscript Collection was am... More
Puzzle initial from BL Arundel 383, f. 45
Puzzle initial 'F'(orma), at the beginning of Gilbertus Porretanus's Liber de sex principiis. Image taken from f. 45 of Translations of Aristotle, etc., and others, some with glosses. Written in Latin. The Aru... More
Decorated initial from BL Arundel 59, f. 90
Decorated initial 'G'(od). Image taken from f. 90 of De Regimine Principum; Secrets of the Philosophers; Secretum Secretorum. Written in English, with Latin marginal notes. The Arundel Manuscript Collection wa... More
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 336
Image taken from f. 336 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Detail from BL Burn 275, f. 550
Detail of table, with decorated initial. Image taken from f. 550 of Scholastic miscellany (see Notes for contents). Written in Latin.
Decorated initials from BL Eg 3323, f. 5
Decorated initials 'P' and 'D'. Image taken from f. 5 of Fragment of a leaf of Nicomachean Ethics. Written in Latin. The Egerton Manuscript Collection is named after its founder, Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-1617)... More
Trumpter from BL Harley 3487, f. 216
Historiated initial 'Q'(uo) with a man with a trumpet and a shield. Image taken from f. 216 of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of me... More
Table of Virtues from BL Harley 3396, f. 118v
Table of Virtues in the form of a tree, with coats of arms, a partial rinceaux border, and two wild men wielding clubs. Image taken from f. 118v of Ethica (index Ethics); Formula vitae honestae (De quatuor virt... More
Dog from BL Harley 3487, f. 142v
Detail of marginal drawing of a dog with a satchel. Image taken from f. 142v of Libri Naturales, with extensive glosses. Written in Latin. The "BL Harley Manuscript" refers to a collection of medieval manuscri... More