{"id":8510,"date":"2020-02-14T09:00:23","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T08:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.facsimilefinder.com\/articles\/?p=8510"},"modified":"2024-05-23T11:52:52","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T10:52:52","slug":"commentary-apocalypse-beatus-liebana","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.facsimilefinder.com\/articles\/commentary-apocalypse-beatus-liebana\/","title":{"rendered":"Picturing the End of Time: The Illustrated Commentaries on the Apocalypse from Medieval Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Beatus<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What are commonly referred to as \u201cBeatus manuscripts\u201d are twenty-nine illustrated commentaries <\/strong>on the Apocalypse<\/strong> by Beatus of Li\u00e9bana<\/strong>. These manuscripts, all in Latin<\/strong>, were produced between the last quarter of the ninth century<\/strong> and the first half of the thirteenth century<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dedication of physical and human resources to creating so many rich copies of Beatus of Li\u00e9bana\u2019s text demonstrates the importance placed on spiritual salvation<\/strong> and the reckoning of the soul<\/strong>. These aspects remain timeless and to experience one of these manuscripts is as poignant today as it must have been a millennium ago.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The vast majority were made in northern Spain<\/strong>, the early works being Asturian and Le\u00f3nese, the later being Castilian. Most are extensively illustrated with brightly colored<\/strong>, detailed pictures<\/strong> showing the events of the Apocalypse<\/strong> and abounding with monsters<\/strong>, angels<\/strong>, and the famous Four Horsemen<\/strong>. It is a rich and unique manuscript tradition that spans three centuries<\/strong> and reflects the ongoing religious<\/strong>, cultural<\/strong>, and political strife of medieval Spain<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n