Paris Apocalypse

Paris Apocalypse

One of the oldest Apocalypse manuscripts from England and a special treasure of the French National Library in Paris: the famous Paris Apocalypse. This significant manuscript is a work by the Mater of Sarum and originated in Salisbury ca. 1250. That date indicates that this is a work from the heyday of English illumination! The Apocalypse presents a magnificent miniature on each of its 100 pages. The grandiose, elegant illustrations of the Apocalypse are rich with figures and their composition indicates a true master of his art. Last but not least, the series of noteworthy owners of this manuscript demonstrates the outstanding quality and position of the Paris Apocalypse!

An English Master

The Master of Sarum created a true masterpiece with the Paris Apocalypse, which remains enchanting to this day. This painter already indicates this artwork’s place of origin with his name: Sarum is an old term for Salisbury. This work of art was made there ca. 1250, it is considered to be one of the earliest examples of an Apocalypse in England. The Master of Sarum was a significant miniaturist during the flowering of English illumination in the 13th century. Two more of his masterpiece are known as the Amesbury Psalter and the Missal of Henry Chichester.

Elegant Miniatures Gleaming with Gold

Every one of the 100 pages of the Paris Apocalypse is gorgeously illustrated. Sometimes there are even miniature pages with a single large miniature divided into two registers. No gold was spared with these paintings. The miniatures present marvelously composed scenes filled with figures in elegant green-gold frames above two columns of text. The miniatures and their elegant Gothic figures are so wonderfully designed that one often needs a second look to recognize the sometimes terrifying content – the forms of the Apocalypse.

The Royal Owners of this Gem

Manuscript Français 403 of the French National Library in Paris counts among the special treasures of the library’s manuscript collection. It is not just its status as the oldest Apocalypse manuscript from the British Isles that make the Apocalypse so special. Its exceptional history of ownership is worthy of mention. The manuscript remained in England until the 14th century when it reached France. The royal owner Charles V of France (1338–1380) gifted the Apocalypse to the Duke of Anjou. The next owner, Louis de Bruges, seigneur de la Gruthuyse (1427–1492) had his coat of arms immortalized in the manuscript. Additionally, Louis XII of France (1462–1515) left his mark in the Paris Apocalypse.