Folio 2v - Creation of the animals and Folio 2v - Creation of man

COMMENTARY

Text

Genesis 1: 24-25.

Illustration

the Creation of the Animals. God stands in a three-quarters pose facing right, very similar to f.2r, except that now his tunic is red and his cloak blue. He has no beard. On the right are three compartments. The elephant at the top is drawn from the same model as f.65v, except it is in reverse. Below him are a hare, a squirrel holding a nut and a cat. This is not the soft tabby of f.5r but the spiky tailed animal found on Ashmole f.9r. The position of its tail coming through its legs and across its back is like the model in Ashmole. Below in the damaged area are a bull and lion, and at the bottom a goat, stag and horse. There is a tiny amount of splattered blue paint beginning on the right side of the cat, a very rare example of carelessness or perhaps an accident. A similar image of a beardless God standing to the left of his created animals is found in the narthex mosaics at St Mark's, Venice. It is significant that the mosaic also includes a hare because this creature is not mentioned in the Bestiary. The damaged area has been scraped and smudged. It corresponds almost exactly with the pricking on the recto and probably occurred when the pricking took place. Initial type 3.

COMMENTARY

Text

Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 1:1-2.

Illustration

the Creation of Eve. A dominating God is squeezed into the frame and is shown in a three-quarters view as on the preceding two folios. He wears a red tunic and blue gown and is beardless. His right arm is raised and his left arm supports Eve's elbow. He stands on Adam's foot. Eve springs from Adam's side, holding his shoulder. Adam leans on a floating rock decorated with filigree designs. The paint surface has been partially scraped. Some lines and margins visible. There are prick marks for pouncing on Adam and Eve. Initial type 3.