Magnificently illuminated and a model for the famous Beatus manuscripts: one of the few surviving Apocalypse manuscripts from the Carolingian period
Apocalypse of Valenciennes
France or Germany — First quarter of the 9th century

Apocalypse of Valenciennes
France or Germany — First quarter of the 9th century
This 9th century manuscript is one of the few Carolingian Apocalypse manuscript to survive today
It also contains one of the first complete biblical picture cycles
These 39 miniatures served as a template for the famous imagery of the Beatus manuscripts

Apocalypse of Valenciennes
John Receives a Vision from God
Contained within a splendid frame of Insular interlace, this Hibernian miniature exhibits stylistic influences from Beatus manuscripts as well, particularly the clear, heavy lines that give the figure clear features and gestures. John’s vision is represented by a scroll being handed down to him from above, which is affixed with seven seals for the seven churches of Asia to whom he is instructed to share this vision. He is depicted as a beardless youth wearing his long hair tied behind his head.
Apocalypse of Valenciennes
- Apocalipsis de Valenciennes
- Apokalypse von Valenciennes
- Apocalipsis Carolingio de Valenciennes
Short Description
The Apocalipsis of Valenciennes is an illuminated manuscript that arose in the first quarter of the 9th century. Its exact place of origin is unknown, nonetheless, the work exhibits strong influences from the medieval book art of Flanders and the Rhineland. The miniatures of the manuscript comprise the first complete biblical picture cycle. Its images were the foundation of the illustrations of the famous Spanish Beatus-Apocalypses.
Apocalipsis of Valenciennes
Since the beginning of the Middle Ages, the last book of the Bible, the so-called Apocalypse has been adapted and reworked countless times by Christian writers and book artists. The tale of the vision of John, in which the end of the world and Judgement Day are revealed, is probably the most-reproduced biblical story. Moreover, it is the story, which prompted medieval miniatures to become the most exciting and fantastical of illustrations. The Apocalipsis of Valenciennes is one of the earliest versions of apocalypse manuscripts and impresses with its 39 colored miniatures in the Carolingian style.
European Book Art
Only the first name “Otoltus” is known about the writer of the apocalypse. The miniatures of the work show stylistic influences of Rhineland illumination, but are also markedly characterized by medieval art from Flanders. An exact origin of the codex cannot be said for certain. The manuscript is particularly significant for Spain, where one can gather that this Apocalypse with its illustrations served as a template for the famous Apocalypse commentary of Beatus of Liébana. It is certain that Valenciennes’ excellent illustrations are unusually high-quality miniatures of early medieval European book art.
Historic Painting
The powerful and symbol-rich images of the Apocalipsis of Valenciennes comprise one of the first complete biblical picture cycles. Each of the 39 miniatures fills half a page and includes a passage from the Bible that allows the beholder to participate in the depicted scene. The manuscript opens with a depiction of Saint John, who casts a spell on the attention of the reader with his right hand over his heart. The following pictures show, in naïve charm, the additional events of the biblical story, in which the downfall of humanity and the sinners’ torments of hell are described. Hardly any other text from the Bible fascinates readers of all epochs like the Book of Revelation. The valuable manuscript, which was previously part of the collection of the French monastery of Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, is housed today in the Valenciennes, Musée des Beaux-Arts in France.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Apocalipsis de Valenciennes
Apokalypse von Valenciennes
Apocalipsis Carolingio de Valenciennes - Size / Format
- 80 pages / 27.2 × 20.1 cm
- Origin
- France or Germany
- Date
- First quarter of the 9th century
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 39 coloured miniatures
- Artist / School
- Scribe: Otoltus
Illuminator: Sedulius - Previous Owners
- Abbey of St. Amand (Saint-Amand-les-Eaux)

Apocalypse of Valenciennes
The Third and Fourth Trumpets
Many of the calamities of the Apocalypse are announced by angels blowing trumpets. The upper angel in this brightly-colored full-page miniature blows the third horn, the result of which is depicted in the upper left cell: the fall of the star called Wormwood, which poisons a third of the world’s freshwater.
The lower angel blows the Fourth Trumpet, and in the middle-left cell, the lights of heaven – Sun, Moon, and stars – are darkened by a third, and the two figures in the cell, one before a red sun and the other a crescent moon, look positively stunned. The cell in the lower-left corner depicts an eagle. It represents an angel who appears before the sounding of the Fifth Trumpet and warns those dwelling on the Earth of the woe to come – an army of locusts.
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Apocalypse of Valenciennes“
Apocalipsis de Valenciennes
- Publisher
- Orbis Mediaevalis – Madrid, 2009
- Limited Edition
- 995 copies
- Binding
- Leather with embossings
- Commentary
-
1 volume by Peter Klein
Languages: English, Spanish - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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