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Home , Basilisk, Bestiary, Cephalophore, Hellmouth, Serpent (symbolism), Tarasque

A Guide to Medieval . . . Sirens. Some of these monsters you may recognize from fairy July 7–October 6 tales, Greek and Roman mythology, books about your favorite boy wizard. In the , these monsters and many more made their way onto the pages of illuminated manu- scripts. These handwritten texts, which include , books of hours, and books of , were often decorated with elaborate designs and images. This exhibition, Medieval Monsters: Terrors, Aliens, Wonders, explores how images of monsters played a complex role in medi- eval society and operated in a variety of ways, often instilling fear, revulsion, devotion, or wonderment.

Medieval Monsters is organized by the Morgan Library & Museum, New York. Supporting Sponsor: The Womens Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art Media Sponsor: Before you start You are ready to go! Use exploring, there is some this field guide to identify terminology monsters you encounter you may need to know. throughout the exhibition.

Anthropomorphic a creature or object having humanlike a or who can Livre des merveilles du monde (Book of Marvels of the World), characteristics cause death with a glance, often described in French, c. 1460. Illuminated by the Master of the Geneva as a crested or as a rooster with a Boccaccio. , Angers. Ink snake’s tail. Here, the basilisk appears in an and tempera on vellum. The Cryptozoology the study of hidden creatures, which aims to Morgan Library & Museum, image that is supposed to represent Ethiopia. Purchased by Pierpont Morgan prove the existence of beasts from folklore (1837–1913), 1911, MS M.461 (fol. like bigfoot, aliens, or chupacabras 26v–27r)

Illuminated a written text that includes decoration or illus- manuscript trations. Illuminated manuscripts take many forms, such as bibles, books of hours (personal devotional books), (books of psalms), and sacramentaries (book used by a priest during Catholic services).

Blemmyes headless people whose facial Monster from the verbs monstrare (to show) and features are on their chest. During the Middle monere (to warn), monsters are a disruption Ages, blemmyes were thought to inhabit of the natural world that often take the form of Africa and later, India. unreal creatures.

Normative what the most powerful members of a society value as proper. Non-normative people are often represented as monstrous in these manuscripts.

Personify represent a quality or concept through a humanlike form, for example, “a can personify the winds”

Quadrupeds an animal with four limbs specialized for walk- ing. Can be used to describe an unreal creature, such as “a is a reptilelike quadruped”

All images are details.

4 5 Cephalophore a or who , in French, Dracontopede a serpent with the head Speculum humanae salvationis c. 1445–65. Flanders, Bruges. Ink, (Mirror of Human ), in carries their own head tempera, and on vellum. of a maiden. The dracontopede was thought by Latin, c. 1350–1400. Germany, The Morgan Library & Museum, Franconia (Nuremberg?). Ink and Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, some to be responsible for tempting in the tempera on vellum. The Morgan 1911, MS M.675 (fol. 139v–140r) Library & Museum, Purchased . by Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), 1902, MS M.140 (fol. 3v–4r)

Cetus a large sea creature often depicted Jonah Cast Up, c. AD 280–90. Dragon a type of winged serpent sometimes Book of Hours, 1415–20. Asia Minor. Marble. The Cleve- Illuminated by the Master of as a whale or shark who swallowed Jonah, land Museum of Art, John L. used to represent . The story of Saint the Morgan Infancy Cycle. Severance Fund, 1965.238 Netherlands, perhaps Delft. saving him from his death in the biblical George killing a dragon appears in many prints Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum. The Morgan Library & book of Jonah and illuminated manuscripts. Museum, Purchased with the assistance of the Fellows, 1953, MS M.866 (fol. 142v–143r)

Demons evil spirits that are active in the Saint Anthony Tormented by the although common creatures Bestiaire d’Amour ( Devils, 1400s. Martin Schongauer of Love), in French, c. 1290. world, often working on behalf of Satan. (German, c. 1450–1491). Engrav- in other parts of the world, the medieval Richard de Fournival (French, ing. The Cleveland Museum 1201–1260). Ink and tempera Demons can also be associated with animals of Art, Dudley P. Allen Fund, European person considered elephants to be on vellum. The Morgan Library 1923.227 & Museum, Purchased by like , wolves, and . creatures of imagination and wonder. Their Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), ivory was thought to smooth wrinkles and 1911, MS M.459 (fol. 20v–21r) whiten teeth, and they were also considered the enemies of dragons.

6 7 Giants humanoids of extraordinary size, Book of Hours, in Latin, c. 1520. Harpy a bird with the head of a woman. In Capital with Addorsed , Illuminated by Simon Bening 1200s. Southwest France, strength, and appetite, often with little intel- (Flemish, c. 1483–1561). Flanders, Greek mythology, harpies personified storm Languedoc, Toulouse(?). Lime- Bruges. Ink, tempera, and gold stone. The Cleveland Museum of ligence. Popular medieval examples include on vellum. The Morgan Library & winds. Art, Gift of the John Huntington Museum, Purchased by Pierpont Art and Polytechnic Trust, Goliath, Nimrod, and Saint Christopher. Morgan (1837–1913), 1907, MS 1916.1983 M.307 (fol. 160v–161r)

Griffin a creature with the body of a and The , 1400s. Martin Hellmouth the entrance to , imagined -Hours of Yolande de Schongauer. (German, Soissons, in Latin and French, the head and wings of an . Griffin sculp- c. 1450–91). Engraving. The as monstrous mouth main section c. 1280–99, Cleveland Museum of Art, exhibited pages c. 1400. France, tures can be guardian figures at some Catholic Dudley P. Allen Fund, Amiens. Ink, tempera, and 1926.466 gold on vellum. The Morgan churches. Library & Museum, Purchased, 1927, MS M.729 (fol. 404v– 405r)

Gryllus a squat creature with a human head Cuerden Psalter, in Latin, c. 1270. considered legendary beasts. Book of Hours, in Latin, c. 1475. Illuminated by the Workshop of Illuminated by Robinet Testard that sits on bestial haunches William of Devon (English, active were thought to be the degenerate (French, active 1475–1523). c. 1260–70). , Oxford. France, Poitiers. Ink, tempera, Ink, tempera, and gold on vellum. offspring of a lion and a pard (a mythical, and gold on vellum. The Morgan The Morgan Library & Museum, spotted cat associated with sin). Library & Museum, Purchased Purchased, 1929, MS M.756 (fol. on the Fellows Fund, 1979, MS 10v–11r) M.1001 (fol. 87v–88r)

8 9 a demon representing Satan. Book of Hours, in Latin, c. 1475. Mermen the mythical male equivalent to Leaf from a Commission, Saint Illuminated by Robinet Testard Mark Giving the Keys of Venice The Leviathan eats God’s creations and (French, active 1475–1523). , mermen are marine creatures with to Francesco de Priuli, c. 1523–24. France, Poitiers. Ink, tempera, Benedetto Bordon (Italian). Ink, threatens upheaval. and gold on vellum. The Morgan the upper body of a man and the tail of a fish. tempera, and gold on vellum. Library & Museum, Purchased The Cleveland Museum of Art, on the Fellows Fund, 1979, MS the Jeanne Miles Blackburn M.1001 (fol. 87v–88r) Collection, 2011.69

Lynx the lynx’s urine was believed to Fountains Abbey Bestiary, Panotti a mythical race of people possessing Livre des merveilles du monde in Latin, c. 1325–50. England, (Book of Marvels of the World), solidify into a mythical gemstone. perhaps North Yorkshire. Ink large ears in French, c. 1460. Illuminated on vellum. The Morgan Library by the Master of the Geneva & Museum, Gift of Alastair Boccaccio. France, Angers. Ink Bradley Martin, 1958, MS M.890 and tempera on vellum. The (fol. 1v–2r) Morgan Library & Museum, Purchased by insert J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), 1911, MS M.461 (fol. 26v–27r)

Mandrake the root of a plant whose oint- Compendium Salernitanum Satan (Devil) a cosmic force of evil that The Temptation of Christ, 1400s. (Salerno Compendium), in Latin, Master L Cz (German). Engrav- ment was reputedly able to cure all ailments French, and Italian, c. 1350–75. was the catalyst for the original sin: tempting ing. The Cleveland Museum of Northern Italy, perhaps Venice. Art, John L. Severance Fund, except death. The root was thought to Ink and tempera on vellum. The Eve in the Garden of Eden. In the , Satan 1954.743 Morgan Library & Museum, Pur- resemble a human body. chased with the assistance of the is referred to as the ancient serpent or dragon, Fellows and special assistance enemy, adversary, accuser, attacker, and devil of William S. Glazier, 1955, MS M.873 (fol. 61v–62r) named Beelzebub.

10 11 part man and part beast, a mythical Dancing Satyr Group, 500– Skautuhvalur a monstrous kind of fish Map of Iceland from Theatrum 475 BC. Greece, Boeotia. Painted orbis terrarium (Theater of the woodland creature that had the body of a man terracotta. The Cleveland with great raylike fins, so large they appear World), in Latin, 1595. Abraham Museum of Art, John L. Sever- Ortelius. Antwerp: Plantin. with the ears and tail of a goat or horse, some- ance Fund, 1992.352 as an island and are able to overturn ships The Morgan Library & Museum, Gift of J. P. Morgan, 1936, PML times with hooves 33485; plate after fol. 103

Sea Swine a monstrous kind of fish Map of Iceland from Theatrum Sphinx according to Greek tradition, a mythi- La destruction de la noble orbis terrarium (Theater of the cité de Thèbes (The Destruction resembling a boar World), in Latin, 1595. Abraham cal creature that is part woman, serpent, and of the Noble City of Thebes), Ortelius. Antwerp: Plantin. in French, 1474. France. Ink on The Morgan Library & Museum, lion, sometimes also pictured with eagle wings paper. The Morgan Library & Gift of J. P. Morgan, 1936, Museum, Gift of the Trustees of PML 33485; plate after fol. 103 the William S. Glazier Collection, 1984, MS G.23 (fol. 7v–8r)

Siren a hybrid woman combining the Les abus du monde (The Abuses Tarasque similar to a dragon, the legendary COVER IMAGE of the World), in French, c. 1510. Hours of Henry VIII, in Latin, Pierre Gringore (French, c. 1475– characteristics of a bird and/or fish. A ’s spawn of the biblical Leviathan and Onachus c. 1500. Illuminated by Jean 1538). France, Rouen. Ink, tem- Poyer (active 1465–1503). France, irresistible song was blamed for luring pera, and gold on vellum. The (a scaly, bison-like creature). The tarasque was Tours. Ink, tempera, and gold on Morgan Library & Museum, vellum. The Morgan Library & sailors to their deaths. Purchased by Pierpont Morgan thought to have terrorized the countryside of Museum, Gift of the Heineman (1837–1913), 1899, MS M.42 southern France before it was tamed by Saint Foundation, 1977, MS H.8 (fol. (fol. 14v–15r) . 191v–192r)

12 13 Tricephalic something having three heads. Historien Bibel (Biblical History), Wild Men (Wild Women / Wild Book of Hours, in Latin, about in Latin and German, right 1490. South Netherlands. Ink, Here it is used as a tool to illustrate the concept page c. 1375–1400, left page Children) mythical humanlike creatures tempera, and gold on vellum. c. 1522. Germany. Ink on vellum. The Morgan Library & Museum, of the Holy Trinity (Christ, God, and the Holy The Morgan Library & Museum, covered with hair who live in the wilderness. Bequest of E. Clark Stillman, Spirit). Purchased by Pierpont Morgan 1995, MS S.7 (fol. 29v–30r) (1837–1913), 1907, MS M.268 Wildmen are comparable to and (fol. 1v–2r) associated with woodlands.

Ziphius a horrible sea monster native to Map of Iceland from Theatrum a horselike creature with a pointed Book of Hours, in Latin and orbis terrarium (Theater of the Dutch, c. 1500. Illuminated by deep waters all over the world, imagined as World), in Latin, 1595. Abraham horn thought to be able to detect poison. In the Master of Edward IV Ortelius. Antwerp: Plantin. (Flemish, active c. 1470–90). a beaked whale to capture a unicorn one needed a virgin, The Morgan Library & Museum, The Netherlands, Utrecht. Ink, Gift of J. P. Morgan, 1936, PML tempera, and gold on vellum. 33485; plate after fol. 103 so they were often associated with the Virgin The Morgan Library & Museum, Mary. The tusks of narwhals, a type of whale Gift of the Trustees of the William S. Glazier Collection, native to Arctic waters, were traded and pur- 1984, MS G.5 (fol. 18v–19r) ported to be unicorn horns.

14 15 Related Programming

Gallery Talk: Medieval Monsters Tue/Jul 16 and Tue/Sep 10, 12:00 p.m. Jennifer DePrizio, director of interpretation, highlights how monsters were used in the Middle Ages to instill fear, communicate morality, and explain natural phenomenon.

Gallery Talk: Contemporary Monsters Fri/Aug 23, 6:00 p.m. Contemporary artist Sean Foley reflects on key works in Medieval Monsters using “nonsense” as a way to explore monsters and wonder. Imaginative inquiries and curiosity encouraged.

Lecture: Beast or Monster? Animals in the Medieval World Wed/Aug 14, 6:00 p.m., Gartner Auditorium. Explore animals both real and imaginary in the Middle Ages with Dr. Elizabeth Morrison, senior curator of the Department of Manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum, through the bestiary: a kind of medieval animal encyclopedia.

Docent tours Jul 17–Sep 29, Wed and Sun, 2:00 p.m. Join CMA volunteer docents for tours of Medieval Monsters. Meet at the atrium information desk. Reservation required. Limit 25.

Self-guided tour: “Beyond Medieval Monsters” In the ArtLens App (download for free on iOS and Android devices)

Open Studio Every Sun, 1:00–4:00 p.m. Let Medieval Monsters spark your imagination with a variety of prompts and materials related to July’s theme of Imagine.

Workshop: Medieval Monsters and Creative Drawing (all levels). Sat/Sep 28, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Explore the terrors, aliens, and wonders of Medieval Monsters as a creative springboard for expres- sive and abstract reinterpretation in your own drawings. $100, CMA members $85.

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