Ende (artist)

Ende (?-?) This female manuscript illuminator worked on a 10th century group of manuscripts, of which there are 24 known copies with illustrations. These manuscripts contain the Commentaries on the Apocalypse compiled by the Spanish monk Beatus in 786.

The manuscripts were created in a monastery in the mountains of Leon in northwest Spain. There are a number of hands discernible in the manuscripts. The chief painter was likely a priest called Senior. Historians have also attributed elements of the manuscripts to Emetrius, whose style is attributable in comparison to an earlier signed work. The third attributable hand is that of Ende. She signed the work as DEPINTRIX (paintress) and DIE AIUTRIX (helper of god). She was probably a nun.

The illuminations illustrate the Apocalyptic Vision of St. John the Divine in the Book of Revelation in the Mozarabic style. This style was arose in Spain after the Muslim invasions and blends elements of Islamic art and decorative traditions, particularly the emphasis on geometry, rich colors, ornamented grounds, and stylized figures.

Related links

Women Artists

References

* Chadwick, Whitney, "Women, Art, and Society," Thames and Hudson, London, 1990
* Harris, Anne Sutherland and Linda Nochlin, "Women Artists: 1550-1950", Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Knopf, New York, 1976