The Illuminated Medieval manuscripts contained asides, jokes, barbs and revelations as to what a monk was thinking as he sat, head bowed over a book, his being, soul and genitals lashed with dread warnings about sex, demons and the the hellish hereafter.
![(circumcision of Abraham, Genesis 17-23-26) Bible of Jean de Sy, Paris ca. 1355-1357 BnF, Français 15397, fol. 22v](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/circumcision-of-Abraham-Genesis-17-23-26-Bible-of-Jean-de-Sy-Paris-ca.-1355-1357-BnF-Français-15397-fol.-22v-1042x1024.jpg)
(circumcision of Abraham, Genesis 17-23-26) Bible of Jean de Sy, Paris ca. 1355-1357 BnF, Français 15397, fol. 22v
![Revelation 18:1-2 ‘And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.’ Apocalypse, Normandy ca. 1330](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/birds1-1129x1024.jpg)
Revelation 18:1-2 ‘And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.’
Apocalypse, Normandy ca. 1330
![Beatus of Liébana, Commentarius in Apocalypsin, Burgos ca. 1180 NY, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991.232.6](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Beatus-of-Liébana-Commentarius-in-Apocalypsin-Burgos-ca.-1180-NY-Metropolitan-Museum-of-Art-1991.232.6.jpg)
Beatus of Liébana, Commentarius in Apocalypsin, Burgos ca. 1180 NY, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991.232.6
![Jacob van Maerlant, Der Naturen Bloeme, Flanders ca. 1350 Den Haag, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KA 16, fol. 108v](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Jacob-van-Maerlant-Der-Naturen-Bloeme-Flanders-ca.-1350-Den-Haag-Koninklijke-Bibliotheek-KA-16-fol.-108v.jpg)
Jacob van Maerlant, Der Naturen Bloeme, Flanders ca. 1350 Den Haag, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KA 16, fol. 108v
![Thomas de Kent, Le roman d’Alexandre ou Le roman de toute chevalerie, London ca. 1308-1312 BnF, Français 24364, fol. 67r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Thomas-de-Kent-Le-roman-d’Alexandre-ou-Le-roman-de-toute-chevalerie-London-ca.-1308-1312-BnF-Français-24364-fol.-67r.jpg)
Thomas de Kent, Le roman d’Alexandre ou Le roman de toute chevalerie, London ca. 1308-1312 BnF, Français 24364, fol. 67r
![caab, a legendary marine animal Petrus Candidus Decembrius, De animantium naturis, Italy ca. 1515 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Urb.lat.276, fol. 128v](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/caab-a-legendary-marine-animal-Petrus-Candidus-Decembrius-De-animantium-naturis-Italy-ca.-1515-Biblioteca-Apostolica-Vaticana-Urb.lat_.276-fol.-128v.jpg)
caab, a legendary marine animal Petrus Candidus Decembrius, De animantium naturis, Italy ca. 1515 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Urb.lat.276, fol. 128v
![Speculum Humanae Salvationis, Germany 14th century Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, Cod. 3378, p. 96](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Speculum-Humanae-Salvationis-Germany-14th-century-Karlsruhe-Badische-Landesbibliothek-Cod.-3378-p.-96-.jpg)
Speculum Humanae Salvationis, Germany 14th century Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, Cod. 3378, p. 96
![Antithesis Christi et Antichristi (Jenský kodex:Jena Codex), Bohemia ca. 1490-1510. Praha, Knihovna Národního muzea, IV.B.24, fol. 80r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Antithesis-Christi-et-Antichristi-Jenský-kodexJena-Codex-Bohemia-ca.-1490-1510.-Praha-Knihovna-Národního-muzea-IV.B.24-fol.-80r-710x1024.jpg)
Antithesis Christi et Antichristi (Jenský kodex:Jena Codex), Bohemia ca. 1490-1510. Praha, Knihovna Národního muzea, IV.B.24, fol. 80r
![Pontifical of Guillaume Durand, Avignon, before 1390 Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 143, fol. 165r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Pontifical-of-Guillaume-Durand-Avignon-before-1390-Paris-Bibliothèque-Sainte-Geneviève-ms.-143-fol.-165r-1280x973.jpg)
Pontifical of Guillaume Durand, Avignon, before 1390 Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 143, fol. 165r
![crowd of the damned Pamplona Bible, Navarre 1197 Amiens, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 108, fol. 254r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/crowd-of-the-damned-Pamplona-Bible-Navarre-1197-Amiens-Bibliothèque-municipale-ms.-108-fol.-254r-1037x1024.jpg)
crowd of the damned Pamplona Bible, Navarre 1197 Amiens, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 108, fol. 254r
![Roman de la Rose, France 14th century. Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 25526, fols. 106v, 160r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Roman-de-la-Rose-France-14th-century.-Paris-Bibliothèque-nationale-de-France-Français-25526-fols.-106v-160r-.jpg)
Roman de la Rose, France 14th century. Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Français 25526, fols. 106v, 160r
![Conception of Alexander the Great, Les faize d’Alexandre (translation of Historiae Alexandri Magni of Quintus Curtius Rufus), Bruges ca. 1468-1475. British Library, Burney 169, fol. 14r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Conception-of-Alexander-the-Great-Les-faize-d’Alexandre-translation-of-Historiae-Alexandri-Magni-of-Quintus-Curtius-Rufus-Bruges-ca.-1468-1475.-British-Library-Burney-169-fol.-14r--727x1024.jpg)
Conception of Alexander the Great, Les faize d’Alexandre (translation of Historiae Alexandri Magni of Quintus Curtius Rufus), Bruges ca. 1468-1475. British Library, Burney 169, fol. 14r
![Pontifical of Guillaume Durand, Avignon, before 1390. Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 143, fol. 165r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Pontifical-of-Guillaume-Durand-Avignon-before-1390.-Paris-Bibliothèque-Sainte-Geneviève-ms.-143-fol.-165r-1280x973.jpg)
Pontifical of Guillaume Durand, Avignon, before 1390. Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 143, fol. 165r
![John Arderne, De arte phisicali et de cirurgia, England ca. 1425. Stockholm, Kungliga biblioteket, X 118](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/John-Arderne-De-arte-phisicali-et-de-cirurgia-England-ca.-1425.-Stockholm-Kungliga-biblioteket-X-118-1280x856.jpg)
John Arderne, De arte phisicali et de cirurgia, England ca. 1425. Stockholm, Kungliga biblioteket, X 118
![Decretum Gratiani with the commentary of Bartolomeo da Brescia, Italy 1340-1345. Lyon, BM, Ms 5128, fol. 100r](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Decretum-Gratiani-with-the-commentary-of-Bartolomeo-da-Brescia-Italy-1340-1345.-Lyon-BM-Ms-5128-fol.-100r-1280x862.jpg)
Decretum Gratiani with the commentary of Bartolomeo da Brescia, Italy 1340-1345. Lyon, BM, Ms 5128, fol. 100r
![bat in a hat book of hours, Picardy 15th century Abbeville, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 16, fol. 31v](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/bat-in-a-hat-book-of-hours-Picardy-15th-century-Abbeville-Bibliothèque-municipale-ms.-16-fol.-31v.jpg)
bat in a hat book of hours, Picardy 15th century Abbeville, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 16, fol. 31v
![MEDIEVAL KAMASUTRA Book of Hours, France 15th century. Bibliothèque de Genève, Ms. lat. 33, fol. 79v](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MEDIEVAL-KAMASUTRA-Book-of-Hours-France-15th-century.-Bibliothèque-de-Genève-Ms.-lat.-33-fol.-79v-1060x1024.jpg)
MEDIEVAL KAMASUTRA Book of Hours, France 15th century. Bibliothèque de Genève, Ms. lat. 33, fol. 79v
![The Annunciation to the Shepherds; Follower of the Egerton Master (French / Netherlandish active about 1405 - 1420); Paris, France; about 1410; Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 19.1 x 14 cm (7 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.); Ms. Ludwig IX 5, fol. 64v](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/pink-pony-book-of-hours-Paris-ca.-1410-LA-Getty-Museum-Ms.-Ludwig-IX-5-fol.-64v-1033x1024.jpg)
The Annunciation to the Shepherds; Follower of the Egerton Master (French / Netherlandish active about 1405 – 1420); Paris, France; about 1410; Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink on parchment; Leaf: 19.1 x 14 cm (7 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.); Ms. Ludwig IX 5, fol. 64v
![Snail vs. Knight, from The Smithsfield Decretals, decretals of Gregory IX, Tolouse, c. 1300. Illuminations were added about forty years later in London.](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Snail-vs.-Knight-from-The-Smithsfield-Decretals-decretals-of-Gregory-IX-Tolouse-c.-1300.-Illuminations-were-added-about-forty-years-later-in-London..jpg)
Snail vs. Knight, from The Smithsfield Decretals, decretals of Gregory IX, Tolouse, c. 1300. Illuminations were added about forty years later in London.
![Cats vs. rabbits, headless people, and a lion playing the violin in the Breviary of Renaud de Bar, France, 1302-1303](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/666.jpg)
Cats vs. rabbits, headless people, and a lion playing the violin in the Breviary of Renaud de Bar, France, 1302-1303
![Aliens with a to-do list and a whip, in Livres du roi Modus et de la reine Ratio, France, 15th century](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/alioens.jpg)
Aliens with a to-do list and a whip, in Livres du roi Modus et de la reine Ratio, France, 15th century
![A Dalmatian Sea Monster, an illustration by Poggio Bracciolini, added to a copy of Le Miroir du Monde, mid-15th century](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/nice.jpg)
A Dalmatian Sea Monster, an illustration by Poggio Bracciolini, added to a copy of Le Miroir du Monde, mid-15th century
![An illustration from Les faize d'Alexandre (a translation of Historiae Alexandri Magni of Quintus Curtius Rufus), Bruges, c. 1468-1475](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dragon.jpg)
An illustration from Les faize d’Alexandre (a translation of Historiae Alexandri Magni of Quintus Curtius Rufus), Bruges, c. 1468-1475
![rabbit warrior Vincent of Beauvais, Speculum historiale, France ca. 1294-1297 Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 130II, fol. 319v](https://flashbak.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/rabboit-1047x1024.jpg)
rabbit warrior
Vincent of Beauvais, Speculum historiale, France ca. 1294-1297
Boulogne-sur-Mer, Bibliothèque municipale, ms. 130II, fol. 319v
Spotter: Disgarding Images, i09,
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