Animals in Medieval Art

Bestiaries

The Worksop Bestiary

England, c. 1185

Lions

Swordfish

Pelicans

Vipers

Sirens

Hedgehogs

Fox

Panther

Ostriches

Turtledoves

Dog Identifying His Master’s Murderer

Ibex

Hyena

Crocodile

Antelope

The Aberdeen Bestiary

England, c. 1200

Bear

Pelicans

Phoenix

Phoenix

Vipers

Serpent

Hedgehogs

Fox

Elephant and Dragon

Herons

Panther

Beaver

Ostriches

Turtledoves

Salamanders

Hoopoes

The Harley Bestiary

England, 1225-1250

Ibex

Bonnacon

The Bestiary of Love

Italy, c. 1290

Lion

Swordfish

Elephants

Whale

Hedgehog

Beaver

Ostrich

Mourning Turtledove

The Bestiary of Love

France, 13th-14th c.

Lion

Lion

Lion

Hoopoes

Weasels

The Bestiary of Anne Walshe

England, c. 1400-1425

Lions

Pelicans

Whale

Lynx

Dog

Cat

Crocodile

Bonnacon

The Ashmole Bestiary

England, c. 1511

Pelicans

Elephant and Dragon

Unicorn

Cats

Hyena

Griffin

Other Bestiaries

Lions, England, 12th c.

Crocodile and Hydrus, England, 12th c.

Crocodile and Hydrus, France, 1250s

Crocodile, France, 1250s

Caladrius, England, 1250s

Lions, Belgium, 1270

Ibex, England, 13th c.

Lions, France, 13th c.

Lions, England, 13th c.

Crocodile, France, 13th c.

Hoopoes, France, 13th c.

Crocodile, England, 13th c.

Lion, England, 13th c.

Hyena, England, 13th c.

Caladrius, England, 13th c.

Lions, England, 13th c.

Lynx, France, 13th c.

Lion, England, 13th-14th c.

Lions, France, 13th-14th c.

Lion, England, c. 1300

Ostrich, Italy, c. 1300

Ostrich, England, 1310s

Rabbits, Belgian, c. 1350

Lion, England, 14th c.

Lion, England, 14th c.

Partridges, France, 14th c.

Raven, France, 14th c.

Crocodile, France, c. 1450

Griffin, France, c. 1450

Ibex, France, c. 1450

Hyenas, France, c. 1450

Hoopoes, France, c. 1450

Other Illuminations

Sea Hare, France

Elephant and Dragon, 13th c.

Lions, England, 13th c.

Cats, England, 13th c.

Dog and Master, England, c. 1300

England, c. 1300

Hare, England, c. 1300

Rabbits, England, 1325-35

St. Jerome and the LionFrance, c. 1410-1416

Hedgehog, France, c. 1415-1430

Pelican, France, c. 1430

Griffin, France, 15th c.

Painting

Spain, 13th-c. Fresco

The Creation of the AnimalsMaster Bertram, 1415

Stonework

Italy, 9th c.

Bull and LionsItaly, 11th c.

Lion Chasing GoatGermany, 12th c.

Jonah and the WhaleFrance, 12th c.

Amiens Cathedral, c. 1270

Griffin Mosaic, Italy, c. 1300

Crocodile, England, 1330

Strasbourg CathedralFrance, 12th-15th c.

Spain, 14th c.

Griffin, England, 14th c.

Griffin, England, 15th c.

Hyena, England, 15th c.

Stained Glass

Life of St. Austremoine of IssoireAuvergne, France

Metalwork

Aquamanile, Germany, c. 1200

Lion Trampling VipersAquamanile, Germany, c. 1200

Aquamanile, Germany, 13th c.

Eucharistic DoveLimoges, 13th c.

The Netherlands, 15th c.

Unicorns in Medieval Art

The Rochester BestiaryEngland, c. 1230

France or Belgium, c. 1350

France, c. 1400

Annunciation as a Unicorn HuntAltar in Erfurt Cathedral, c. 1420

The Netherlands, c. 1440

Aquamanile, Germany, 15th c.

Austria, 15th c.

The Lady and the UnicornFrance, 15th-c. Tapestry

The Unicorn Tapestries

The Netherlands, 1495-1505

Start of the Hunt

The Unicorn Purifies the Water

The Unicorn Tries to Escape

The Unicorn Defends Itself

The Unicorn is Killed and Brought to the Castle

The Unicorn in Captivity

The Earliest Drawings from Life

Nicholas de Honnecourt, c. 1250

Matthew Paris, 1258