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Open Access Art Gallery

Alchemy, Myth & Marvel

Apocalypse dragons, bestiary phoenixes, griffin flights, unicorns, an alchemist’s workshop and fifteenth-century comets — illuminated manuscripts and paintings from the J. Paul Getty Museum’s Open Content program.

The Battle between the Angels and Dragons — The Battle between the Angels and DragonsUnknown illuminator, Getty Apocalypse, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1 (83.MC.72), fol. 20v · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Dragon Hurls Water after the Woman Clothed in the Sun — The Dragon Hurls Water after the Woman Clothed in the SunUnknown illuminator, Getty Apocalypse, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1 (83.MC.72), fol. 22 · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Winged Dragon — A Winged DragonUnknown illuminator (bestiary), 1277 or after
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 4 (83.MR.174), fol. 94 · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Phoenix — A PhoenixUnknown illuminator (bestiary), about 1270
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 3 (83.MR.173), fol. 74v · Open Content (CC0) · source

Initial D: A Lion and Unicorns — Initial D: A Lion and UnicornsBute Master, about 1285
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. 46 (92.MK.92), fol. 113v · Open Content (CC0) · source

Initial P: Alexander the Great Carried Aloft by Griffins — Initial P: Alexander the Great Carried Aloft by GriffinsUnknown illuminator, about 1300
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XIII 1 (83.MP.144), fol. 222v · Open Content (CC0) · source

Initial S: A Griffin and Rider — Initial S: A Griffin and RiderUnknown illuminator, about 1240–1250
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig VIII 2 (83.MK.93), fol. 76 · Open Content (CC0) · source

Saint George and the Dragon — Saint George and the DragonMaster of Sir John Fastolf, about 1430–1440
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. 5 (84.ML.723), fol. 33v · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Alchemist — The AlchemistCornelis Bega, 1663
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 84.PB.56 · Open Content (CC0) · source

Comets — CometsUnknown illuminator, shortly after 1464
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XII 8 (83.MO.137), fol. 63 · Open Content (CC0) · source

Astrological Chart — Astrological ChartUnknown illuminator, shortly after 1464
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XII 8 (83.MO.137), fol. 64 · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Beast from the Sea — The Beast from the SeaUnknown illuminator, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1, fol. 23 (83.MC.72.23) · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Dragon Giving the Sceptre of Power to the Beast from the Sea — The Dragon Giving the Sceptre of Power to the Beast from the SeaUnknown illuminator, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1, fol. 23v (83.MC.72.23v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Dragon Pursues the Woman Clothed in the Sun Who Receives the Wings of an Eagle — The Dragon Pursues the Woman Clothed in the Sun Who Receives the Wings of an EagleUnknown illuminator, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1, fol. 21v (83.MC.72.21v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Dragon Fighting the Just — The Dragon Fighting the JustUnknown illuminator, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1, fol. 22v (83.MC.72.22v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Unclean Spirits Issuing from the Mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet — Unclean Spirits Issuing from the Mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and the False ProphetUnknown illuminator, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1, fol. 34v (83.MC.72.34v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Battle between the Horsemen and the Beast — The Battle between the Horsemen and the BeastUnknown illuminator, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1, fol. 41 (83.MC.72.41) · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Defeat of the Beast — The Defeat of the BeastUnknown illuminator, about 1255–1260
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig III 1, fol. 41v (83.MC.72.41v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Dragon — A DragonUnknown illuminator, about 1270
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 3, fol. 89 (83.MR.173.89) · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Lion (Panther) and a Dragon — A Lion (Panther) and a DragonUnknown illuminator, 1277 or after
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 4, fol. 93v (83.MR.174.93v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Unicorn with its Head in the Lap of a Maiden — A Unicorn with its Head in the Lap of a MaidenUnknown illuminator, 1277 or after
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 4, fol. 85v (83.MR.174.85v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Stag before a Dragon-like Snake — A Stag before a Dragon-like SnakeUnknown illuminator, about 1270
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 3, fol. 94v (83.MR.173.94v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Phoenix — A PhoenixUnknown illuminator, 1277 or after
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 4, fol. 46 (83.MR.174.46) · Open Content (CC0) · source

An Angel Showing the Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns to Saint John — An Angel Showing the Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns to Saint JohnMaster of Jean de Mandeville, about 1360–1370
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. 1, v2, fol. 289 (84.MA.40.2.289) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Saint Michael and the Dragon — Saint Michael and the DragonMaster of Sir John Fastolf, about 1430–1440
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. 5, fol. 27v (84.ML.723.27v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Initial Q: Saint Michael and the Dragon — Initial Q: Saint Michael and the DragonUnknown illuminator, about 1240–1250
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig VIII 2, fol. 61v (83.MK.93.61v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Initial V: Dragon and a Woman — Initial V: Dragon and a WomanUnknown illuminator, about 1240–1250
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig VIII 2, fol. 188 (83.MK.93.188) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Comets — CometsUnknown illuminator, shortly after 1464
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XII 8, fol. 62v (83.MO.137.62v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Zodiacal Sign of Taurus — Zodiacal Sign of TaurusUnknown illuminator, third quarter of 13th century
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig VIII 3, fol. 3 (83.MK.94.3) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Zodiacal Sign of Aries — Zodiacal Sign of AriesUnknown illuminator, third quarter of 13th century
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig VIII 3, fol. 2v (83.MK.94.2v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

The Royal Couple with Astrologists — The Royal Couple with AstrologistsHans Schilling, 1469
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 9, fol. 22v (83.MR.179.22v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Josaphat Attacked by Two Demons — Josaphat Attacked by Two DemonsHans Schilling, 1469
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 9, fol. 354v (83.MR.179.354v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

A Dragon and a Farmer with a Club — A Dragon and a Farmer with a ClubUnknown illuminator, about 1450–1475
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XV 1, fol. 16 (83.MR.171.16) · Open Content (CC0) · source

Statuette of a Griffin with an Arimasp — Statuette of a Griffin with an ArimaspUnknown maker, 125–75 B.C.
J. Paul Getty Museum, 96.AB.152 · Open Content (CC0) · source

Saint Anthony Tormented by Demons (with scenes from his life) — Saint Anthony Tormented by Demons (with scenes from his life)Master of the Brussels Romuléon, about 1465–1470
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Ms. Ludwig XI 8, fol. 6v (83.MN.127.6v) · Open Content (CC0) · source

All images: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, Open Content Program — digital images of works believed to be in the public domain, released under CC0 1.0. Images are hosted on this site; follow each “source” link for the museum record. No endorsement by the Getty is implied.