The Holkham Bible Picture Book (BL Add. MS 47682)

The Annunciation, f. 11v.

Colloquial name(s): The Holkham Bible Picture Book

Official name(s): British Library Additional MS 47682

Date: c. 1327-35 (source)

Origin: London(?), S.E. England (source)

Online facsimile available via: British Library Digitised Manuscripts

The Holkham Bible Picture Book is lavishly illustrated with a full-page or two half-page images on the majority of its pages, totaling 231 miniatures and tinted drawings (source). Each image generally has its explanatory text written above it; more rarely, the explanatory text is written below the image or incorporated into the miniature (source).

The manuscript is thought to have been commissioned by an unknown Dominican friar as the first image is of a friar saying to the artist 'Ore feres bien e nettement car mustre serra a riche gent' ('Now do it well and thoroughly, for it will be shown to important people') to which the scribe replies 'Si frai voyre, e Deux me doynt vivre, Unkes ne veyses un autretel livre' ('So I will, and if God grant me life, you will never see a better book than mine') (source).

Basic descriptions of the illustrations are provided by the British Library with the facsimile.