Unanimously acclaimed as the most beautiful codex of the 12th century, the Book of Testaments provides a documentary, artistic, historical, social, critical and informative insight into medieval life, along with many other aspects making this truly masterful book essential reading for an understanding of the genesis of Spain.

Although the actual name of the miniaturist known as the Master of the Book of Testaments is unknown, his artistic personality is of such magnitude that it places his work – with its highly original composition and technique, and unmistakable and unprecedented style – in a class of its own.

“From many viewpoints the Book of Testaments is an extremely attractive work. It plays a key role in the history of the miniature for until then, no cartulary anywhere in Europe had ever been illustrated in this way. [...] The Book of Testaments was a unique work from the start and has never ceased to be the most extraordinary of all European Romanesque cartularies.”

Joaquín Yarza
History of Art Professor

Commentary volume