Worksop Bestiary
ca. 1185
England, possibly in Lincoln or York
215 x 155 mm
MS M.81, fols. 29v–30r
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913) in 1902
Catalog link
Deer
Deer in bestiaries were associated with Christ, especially when shown trampling a snake (symbol of Satan), or running to “Christ, the true spring.” But here, a stag and doe walk side by side in front of three trees, without these points of reference.