France, Fleury, decorated by and English artist
late 10th century
Latin, 295 x 210 mm, 93 fols.
Harley MS 2506, f.42 (detail)

Aratus was a Greek stoic philosopher who lived during the 3rd Century BC.
His 'Phaenomena', in a Latin verse translation by Cicero, was a fundamental
work of reference for medieval astronomers.  This copy was made at the
Benedictine monastary of Fleury on the river Loire, which had close links
with the monastic reform movement in the late 10th century England.  Its
anonymous English artist is one of the great masters of the period.  His
work, both tinted line drawings and fully coloured illuminations, is found
in a number of manuscripts, several apparantly produced in continental
monastaries, which suggests that he travelled extensively on both sides of
the Channel.