The Escorial Beatus

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he copy in the Escorial Monastery Library is one of the oldest, with both text and miniatures executed around 950, most probably in the scriptorium at San Millán de la Cogolla (Rioja). It may have been the work of one or both of two well-known miniaturists, Florencio and Sancho. The miniatures in the Escorial Beatus are a perfect example of Mozarabic iconography, a highly original native Spanish art form which was to have a strong impact all over Europe. "It exhibits the characteristic features of the late Visigothic aesthetic: oval eyes with pupils in the centre, straight nose with rounded nostrils, one eyebrow straight, the other arched, mouth turned down at the corners, ears with double lobes. The force of the style, with its startling colours, the frequent use of yellow ground and powerful figures recalling those in Visigothic bas-reliefs, make this one of the most original documents of the High Middle Ages in Spain.

The facsimile comes in a fine Mudéjar-style binding made of wooden boards covered in fine leather, with two solid silver clasps. It is sewn and bound entirely by hand. The slip cover is in cloth and leather.

The facsimile weighs approximately 3 kg. The binding is also a product of the publishers own workshops, just one more guarantee of artistic and technical quality. Companion Volume By Professor Juan Manuel Ruiz Asencio, Professor of Palaeography and Diplomatics, Valladolid University.

Documentation Kit

Containing facsimile reproductions of 4 folios, printed in 6 to 8 colours, ready to frame and a portfolio with a descriptive documentation of the work. The Documentation Kit is priced at $US130- plus postage.

• Portfolio: 455 x 305 mm.
• Pages: 395 x 255 mm.

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