Bible Moralisee - Full Page Illustration

About the Image

This stunning image is a full-page example from the Bible Moralisee (also known as the Moralised Bible). Dating primarily from the 13th century, these manuscripts were created to explain the spiritual and moral allegories found within the Old and New Testaments.

Each page typically features two columns of biblical text and moralized interpretations, surrounded by a series of small, narrative roundels or miniature scenes. The illustrations are richly detailed, using vibrant pigments like gold leaf, lapis lazuli, and vermilion. This particular full-page spread exemplifies the complexity and artistic skill involved in creating such illuminated works.

Key features:

• Intricate figural representations
• Rich use of color and gold leaf
• Complex narrative composition
• Exemplary of Gothic illumination

The Bible Moralisee was a significant intellectual and artistic achievement of the medieval period, intended for royalty and high nobility, serving as both a devotional text and a symbol of status.