A celebration of the visual contributions of the bestiary—one of the most popular types of illuminated books during the Middle Ages—and an exploration of its lasting legacy.

Brimming with lively animals both real and fantastic, the bestiary was one of the great illuminated manuscript traditions of the Middle Ages. Encompassing imaginary creatures such as the unicorn, siren, and griffin; exotic beasts including the tiger, elephant, and ape; as well as animals native to Europe like the beaver, dog, and hedgehog, the bestiary is a vibrant testimony to the medieval understanding of animals and their role in the world. So iconic were the stories and images of the bestiary that its beasts essentially escaped from the pages, appearing in a wide variety of manuscripts and other objects, including tapestries, ivories, metalwork, and sculpture.

With over 270 color illustrations and contributions by twenty-five leading scholars, this gorgeous volume explores the bestiary and its widespread influence on medieval art and culture as well as on modern and contemporary artists like Pablo Picasso and Damien Hirst.

About the Author

Elizabeth Morrison is senior curator of manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum. She is co-author of The Book of Marvels (Getty, 2024) and editor of A Knight for the Ages: Jacques de Lalaing and the Art of Chivalry (Getty, 2018).

Larisa Grollemond is assistant curator of manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum and was coauthor of The Fantasy of the Middle Ages (Getty Publications, 2022).

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