<i>The Illustrated Beatus: a Corpus of Illustrations of the Commentary on the Apocalypse, vol. 4: The Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries</i> (review)
Judith Collard
Reviews 249 Parergon 20.2 (2003) Part Three, ‘Culture Wars’, looks in depth at the impact of classical Greek education and culture on Julian, Basil Gregory. All three spent their formative years Cappadocia all were educated Athens a similar time. The philosophical religious approaches was markedly different. Three bears least relevance to theme shows that life actions thinking main figures discussed is difficult establish. Van Dam has worked closely with texts Julian Cappadocian Fathers succeeds providing much useful analysis discussion Roman issues which confronted its population fourth century. It establish Basil, Gregory due nature surviving texts. rule appear as somewhat foreign this region province result may be artificial impression source material. This book will interest Patristic scholars social historians alike. Attempting important fourth-century such regional context task, but largely succeeded achieving this. One minor error claim (p. 108) emperor Jovian escorted body Constantius II Constantinople 361 when it who did Peter Edwell Department Ancient History Macquarie University Williams, John, Illustrated Beatus: Corpus Illustrations Commentary Apocalypse, vol. 4: Eleventh Twelfth Centuries, London/Turnhout, Harvey Miller Publishers, 2002; cloth, pp. 356; 418 b/w illustrations; RRP EUR130.00; ISBN 0905203941. Spanish Beatus manuscripts are strikingly distinct from most illuminated books produced early medieval period. They both colourful iconographically unusual, highlighting isolation Asturian Gaulish influences. also unrivalled pictorial richness, containing more than 1500 illustrations codices. Another striking feature consistency they illustrated, adhere model established earliest works, 250 108 canonical images: 68 Apocalypse narrative, seven Commentary; eight being prefatory material depicting Evangelists Gospels, 14 Genealogy Christ and, finally, 11 Jerome’s Daniel. Beatus, original compiler commentaries accompany version Book Revelation, an eighth-century monk, famed for sole voice orthodoxy during Adoptianist heretical crisis dominated Church Spain after defeat Visigothic kingdom by Islamic forces eighth century, defying Eliphandus, Archbishop Toledo. He seems have received little recognition his role contemporary writers, although Alcuin other Carolingian clerics distant supporters. lived Liébana valley, had been settled refugees Southern Spain, probably brought them Toledo Seville he able draw on. John Williams volume larger five-volume project aims provide comprehensive overview 26 fragments between ninth thirteenth centuries. follows format already familiar those used fine surveys British Isles, out does not include list illuminations found each manuscript part catalogue entry. is, however, far these volumes, focuses only work particular set includes complete photographic record work’s illuminations, well noting broader decorative programmes. Reading like entering conversation late. reader expected access preceding volumes...
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