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Ávila Bible, Spain, 12th century.
Biblioteca Nacional VITR/15/1


Sleeping Guards at the Sepulchre.


Holy Women at the Sepulchre. Upper register, f.324v.

Título: Biblia de Ávila [Manuscrito] : [Vetus et Novum Testamentum cum praefationibus et argumentis Sancti Iheronymi et aliorum]
Fecha: entre 1001 y 1200?
Tipo de Documento: Manuscrito
Materia: Manuscritos iluminados
Descripción física: 435 h. : perg.; 58 x 39 cm.
Signatura: VITR/15/1
PID: bdh0000014221
Descripción y notas: Ornamentación italiana y española; en el S.XII se trasladó a España, donde se completó el texto y se añadieron ilustraciones. La decoración italiana, con numerosas capitales iluminadas que representan a los autores de los libros, coloreadas en rojo, azul, amarillo y verde oscuro sobre fondos más claros de este mismo tono. Los colores cambian en la decoración española, también de extraordinarias iniciales de entralazo y figurativas, con el Arca de Noé, los símbolos de los evangelistas y escenas de la vida de Cristo, a toda página
Source: BIBLIOTECA DIGITAL HISPÁNICA [image 683]
Title: Bible of Avila [Manuscript]: [Vetus et Novum Testamentum cum praefationibus et argumentis Sancti Iheronymi et aliorum]
Date: between 1001 and 1200?
Document Type: Manuscript
Subject: Illuminated Manuscripts
Physical description: 435 p. : size 58 x 39 cm.
Signature: VITR / 15/1
PID: bdh0000014221
Description and notes: Italian and Spanish ornamentation; in the 12th century it was moved to Spain, where the text was completed and illustrations were added. The Italian decoration, with numerous illuminated capitals representing the authors of the books, coloured in red, blue, yellow and dark green on lighter backgrounds of the same tone. The colours change in the Spanish decoration, also with extraordinary entwining and figurative initials, with Noah's Ark, the symbols of the evangelists and scenes from the life of Christ, full-page

From the same manuscript: Betrayal and Crucifixion. Ávila Bible, Spain, 12th century. Biblioteca Nacional VITR/15/1, f.324r.




Referenced on p.154, Arms and Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050-1350, Western Europe and the Crusader States by David Nicolle
388A-G Avila Bible, Mozarab-Castilian, late 12th/early 13th centuries
(Biblioteca Nacional, Ms. ER., Madrid, Spain)

A-F - Betrayal and Crucifixion, f.324r; G - Guards at the Holy Sepulchre, f.324v. The Avila Bible is a very late example of Mozarab art. It illustrates warriors in long-sleeved mail hauberks with mail coifs, in one case perhaps worn over a padded aketon. They carry flat-topped kite-shaped shields, indicating the later date of this manuscript, and broad, non-tapering, blunt-tipped swords of Mediterranean-Arab form. Their helmets are conical with forward-angled crowns and they have substantial fixed face-masks or visors.
For terms in italics see Terminology in Armour of the Crusading Era, 1050-1350 - Western Europe and the Crusader States - David Nicolle



See also Medieval face-mask and transitional helmets.
Other Spanish Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers
12th century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers