The Revealed Library: The Fantastic Bestiary at Museo di San Marco

The Revealed Library: The Fantastic Bestiary — Museo di San Marco, Florence

Dates: 11 April – 31 October 2026

The Museo di San Marco presents a dossier exhibition highlighting the illuminated manuscripts preserved in its historic library, designed by Michelozzo at the behest of Cosimo de’ Medici. The display gathers manuscripts dated between the 13th and 16th centuries, exploring animal decoration and the symbolic meanings attributed to creatures across European iconography.

What to see

• Illuminated manuscripts from the 13th–16th centuries with richly decorated initials and figurative scenes.
• A thematic focus on the dragon, tracing its transformations from primordial chaos to the emblem of evil in Christian tradition.
• Mythical and symbolic figures: basilisk, unicorn, harpies, phoenix, butterfly and stag.
• Notable commissions linked to Cosimo the Elder and miniaturists such as Zanobi Strozzi and Bartolomeo di Fruosino.

Why visit

The exhibition complements the museum route by drawing attention to its library holdings and the book heritage of San Marco. Visitors gain not only close encounters with the manuscripts but also an understanding of the visual narratives and original settings for which these books were produced.

Curatorship and project

Organised under the regional direction of national museums of Tuscany, the dossier is curated and scientifically coordinated by the museum’s staff and experts who selected key manuscript groups and shaped the exhibition narrative. The project forms part of a wider museum renewal aimed at enhancing accessibility and interpretation of collections.

Historical notes and main contents

The selection illustrates the development of illumination from Byzantine and Gothic influences in the 13th century to the refined late-gothic and 15th-century Florentine styles. The displays include graduals and psalters featuring saints, real animals and fantastic creatures, some linked to monastic workshops and Medici patronage.

Practical information

Plan your visit to Museo di San Marco during the exhibition period and check opening hours, ticketing and any related activities on the museum’s official channels. The exhibit is ideal for those interested in book history, medieval illumination and animal symbolism in art.