Toulouse Apocalypse

Toulouse Apocalypse

An incredibly precious 14th century Apocalypse manuscript is preserved in the Municipal Library of Toulouse under the shelf mark MS. 0815. The codex originated in England, probably in the beginning of the 14th century. Who the patron of the manuscript was, remains unclear, but nonetheless, the Toulouse Apocalypse is one of the most fascinating Apocalypse manuscripts to ever be produced. The 124-page manuscript measures 305 x 189 mm and its binding consists of tooled leather over wood.

Fantastic Miniatures

In the Toulouse Apocalypse, all the scenes of the apocalypse are represented literally and pictorially. 121 large, colorful miniatures embellished with gold and silver are embedded in the text of the manuscript, which is written in two columns in Latin and French. The majority of the miniatures are in perfect condition and the last 15 miniatures refer to the vision of Saint Paul. The miniature on page 53 of the manuscript is worthy of note: a full-page representation of the Heavenly Kingdom of Jerusalem. At its center, Christ gives a blessing while flanked by a crucifix and the divine Lamb, all surrounded by a tetramorph of the animal symbols for the four Evangelists, and outside of that one finds twelve gates with the twelve angels and apostles represented standing at the bottom of the page. This depiction, like the others in the manuscript, is purely narrative and free of any commentary or other perspective.