Beatus of Facundus 

This is an illustration, made around 1050 by the artist Facundus, from a manuscript of the "Book of Revelation." It is striking for the ways that it melds symbolic and narrative meaning. The image evokes the social and cultural history of medieval Spain. Consider the strong Byzantine influence in the stylized figures and bold colors. The imagery comments on the religious beliefs of the time, where the Church played a central role. The artist places emphasis on the divine judgment and the promise of salvation. What do the symbols of stars, archways, and light suggest about medieval understandings of the cosmos? What message would such a work, with its strong depictions of heaven and hell, have delivered in a society where most people could not read? To understand this artwork further, historians consult illuminated manuscripts and theological texts from the period. This helps to understand the meaning of art as something inseparable from its historical context.