Leaf from a Beatus Manuscript: the Seventh Angel Proclaims the Reign of the Lord

ca. 1180
Not on view
Illustrated Beatus manuscripts bring to life an extraordinary vision of the end of the world, as recorded by Saint John in the Apocalypse (Book of Revelation) and filtered through the lens of Beatus of Liébana, an eighth-century Asturian monk. These manuscripts are unique to medieval Spain and a testament to the pervasive artistry and intellectual milieu of monastic culture there. The leaf shown here comes from a manuscript disassembled in the 1870s.

The seventh angel, shown standing on his books, is remarkable for the sense of movement he evokes through his twisting, graceful pose and intricately rendered drapery. He proclaims, "The kingdom of this world is become our Lord's and his Christ's, and he shall reign for ever and ever. Amen." (Apoc. 11.15)

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Leaf from a Beatus Manuscript: the Seventh Angel Proclaims the Reign of the Lord
  • Date: ca. 1180
  • Culture: Spanish
  • Medium: Tempera, gold, and ink on parchment
  • Dimensions: Overall (folio): 17 1/2 x 11 13/16 in. (44.5 x 30 cm)
    Mat: 22 x 16 in. (55.9 x 40.6 cm)
  • Classification: Manuscripts and Illuminations
  • Credit Line: Purchase, The Cloisters Collection, Rogers and Harris Brisbane Dick Funds, and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, 1991
  • Object Number: 1991.232.12
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

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