National Library of France
National Library of France: Beastiary in Medieval Illumination
A beautiful introduction to the types of exotic animals found in the illuminated manuscripts of medieval Europe. Learn about the symbolic significance of the lion, the ox, the bear, and the dove and view numerous examples of these and...
British Library
British Library: Illuminating the Renaissance: Flemish Manuscripts
A selection of high-quality images from the Flemish manuscripts in the British Library along with a timeline of contemporary European events.
National Library of Scotland
National Library of Scotland: Digital Archive: The Murthly Hours
Browse pages from the Murthly Hours, a kind of prayer book popular in medieval Europe, with many, many illuminated illustrations depicting scenes from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.
J. Paul Getty Trust
J. Paul Getty Museum: Explore Art: Manuscripts
An interesting collection of manuscripts. Teachers and students can explore dozens of images of medieval and early Renaissance manuscripts, both religious and secular. Clicking on the image will pull up a brief description of the work's...
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Hours of Jeanne D'evreux
Examine a book of hours, or prayer book, made for French queen Jeanne d'Evreux in the early 14th century at this Metropolitan Museum site. Illustrations, closeups, and explanatory annotations populate the site, which is especially...
CGFA
Carol Gerten Fine Arts: Limbourg Brothers
This online gallery provides images of the Limbourg Brothers' (1370-1416) illuminated manuscripts from 1408 to 1416. Also included is a short biography abou their lives.
British Library
British Library: The Priceless Lindisfarne Gospels
A page-through exploration of the duly famous Lindisfarne gospels, an extraordinary illuminated manuscript of the seventh century. Includes helpful commentaries, which can be read or listened to, and a magnifying glass for looking at the...
British Library
British Library: Illustrated Book of Hours
View an example of a Renaissance-era book of hours, a small book of prayers and illustrations used for private devotional purposes.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Decorating the Book
Some medieval readers preferred pretty pictures and shiny decorations in their books. Not only did the sparkling page appeal to them, it also proved their economic status, or that the gift they gave was special. View pictures of this...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Manuscripts for Devotion
Many manuscripts were created for public or private devotion. Manuscripts for the Mass included the sacramentary, the gradual, and the missal, described below, and others. For personal prayer, people from all walks of life commissioned...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Manuscripts Overview Quiz
Test your knowledge of illuminated manuscripts using this seven-question quiz.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: What Is an Illuminated Manuscript?
Before the invention of the printing press in Europe around 1455, all books were handwritten and decorated. The word manuscript is derived from the Latin words manus (hand) and scriptus, from scribere (to write). Illuminated, from the...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Devotional and Secular Manuscripts Quiz
Test your knowledge of devotional and secular illuminated manuscripts with this 10-question quiz.
Art Cyclopedia
Artcyclopedia: Manuscript Illuminators
Artcyclopedia maintains an impressive list of links related to known medieval European manuscript illuminators, from the 13th century to the 16th. Page includes links to museum sites and archives where images of illumination can be...