Apocalypse, in German (BL Add. MS 15243)

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, f. 12r.

Colloquial name(s): Apocalypse, in German
Official name(s): British Library, Additional MS 15243

Date: c. 1350 - c. 1370 (source)
Origin: Germany (Thuringia, possibly Erfurt) (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Online Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

This copy of the Apocalypse contains 14 full-page miniatures. A complete list and description of the miniatures are provided by the British Library and are as follows:

2v	St John sitting in a cave in a rock with trees growing on it (representing the island of Patmos: Rev. 1:9).
4r	Christ with a huge gold key. The seven stars in a vertical column over his right hand (representing the angels of the seven churches). St John is lying before his feet. A hand out of a cloud touches him. The label 'vorchte dich nicht' ('fear not') (Rev. 1:16-18).
10r	The Elders. The Lamb: the Lion of Judah crowned. Below, St John. Four Elders adoring (Rev. 5:5-14).
12r	The Four Riders, the fourth a skeleton mounted on a crowned lion (Rev. 6:1-8).
15r	The Locusts emerging from the pit (Rev. 9:3-10).
19r	The Temple of God and the Ark of His Testament (Rev. 11:19). The Woman and the Dragon (Rev. 12:1-5).
21r	The Woman flying. Below, St John. The dragon vomiting water (Rev. 12:13-15).
23r	Kings, in a row, and soldiers, representing the 144,000. The Lamb nimbed, with gold cross (Rev. 14:1-5). M.R. James described the scene below as 'the Annunciation, with the Dove', but it may represent the angel preaching to those on earth (Rev. 14:6).
25r	Christ aloft on a cloud, holding an open book in his left hand, a sickle in his right hand. Two figures below: one holding a blank speech scroll; the other, St John, is gesturing to Christ and a grapevine. An angel to the right, harvesting grapes with a knife (Rev. 14:18-20).
31r	An angel bearing a millstone and casting it into the sea. St John witnessing the scene at the side (Rev. 18:21).
32r	A crowned rider, with an angel and birds above. On the right, an angel giving a rod to the Virgin (Rev. 19:11-15).
34r	An angel holding the key of the bottomless pit and a chain attached to the neck of a devil who is with others in a Hell-mouth (Rev. 20:1-3).
35r	The Judgement (Rev. 20:11-15). Two crowned women are on the left, with Christ in a mandorla in the centre. Two Apostles (?) are on the right. Below, there are three Apostles (?), a Hell-mouth and six corpses.
36r	The Holy City, with twelve towers, and an Apostle in each (Rev. 21:10-14).