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Peafowl are omnivorous members of the pheasant family, and are one of the largest species of birds capable of flight.

Admired for their beauty, peacocks have been kept as pets for thousands of years. They are well-known for their colourful plumage in males, which is used for courtship displays. Peacocks, more properly referred to as peafowl, are perfectly suited for decorating manuscripts. Some illustrations were linked to the text, to prompt the reader to focus on a topic, but many were purely decorative. However, illuminated letters-like this T-also functioned as navigational devices, marking the start of a new chapter or section. Illuminations served to decorate and beautify medieval manuscripts, and animals were a frequent motif.

This peacock standing atop a fish is one of many illuminations in the manuscript, and many of these also include animals such as dogs, serpents, and other birds, as well as more fantastical dragons and grotesques. Translations of the text in Latin, like this one, circulated widely throughout medieval Europe. This medieval manuscript is a copy of Josephus’ Antiquities, which is a history of the Jewish people. This exhibition showcases just some of the interesting examples of animal art that can be found in the manuscripts and early printed books held in the Special Collections of St John’s College Library, as well as presenting relevant facts about the animals themselves and the often sobering nature of their relationship to humans.Ĭurated by Ellie Capeling, Library Graduate Trainee 2019-2020. However, much of the natural world which has inspired human creativity throughout the centuries is now at risk of being destroyed through human interference. These illustrations are charming for their unusual art styles, and unconventional ideas about animals that we are now more familiar with seeing in zoos or on television screens. Visual depictions of animals have served to decorate and illustrate written texts from early manuscripts, through the dawn of the printed book, and up to the present day.

Human interactions with the natural world have long inspired elements in mythology, folklore, and art. Animals have always lived alongside humans, and the species which currently populate the planet evolved in step with us.