10 Surprising Facts about Books of Beasts from the European Middle Ages

A Large Bird and a Man (detail), about 1270, unknown illuminator, Franco-Flemish, made in France, possibly Thérouanne.
"The medieval book of beasts, a kind of encyclopedia of animals known as the bestiary, was full of fascinating creatures both real and fantastic. While the bestiary often linked animals to Christian beliefs, teaching readers moral and religious lessons, it is also a window into the European Middle Ages. This fascinating type of book is the subject of the special exhibition at the Getty Center, Book of Beasts: The Bestiary in the Medieval World, from May 14 to August 18, 2019. From the illuminations—small paintings in radiant colors—in the bestiary, we can uncover the ways people thought about animals in the Middle Ages and how they used them to tell stories. We can also find clues about medieval European ideas, social attitudes, and culture. ..."
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The Land of India (detail), about 1475, unknown illuminator, Flemish, made in Belgium.