Manuscript Leaf from the Beauvais Missal

Manuscript Leaf from the Beauvais Missal

French 13th Century

1285

gouache

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This page is packed with fancy writing and bright colors. The letters are huge, decorated with swirls and tiny pictures of people and animals. Red and blue ink stand out against the pale background, and gold shimmers in spots. Some letters stretch tall like trees, while others curl into shapes with faces or wings. The text looks like prayers or hymns, written in Latin. Tiny birds and leaves hide in the letter shapes, almost like secret decorations. The colors are bold—deep reds, blues, and gold—with some green and yellow added for extra detail. Want to see more like this? Check out the National Gallery of Art, Washington.

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