Observations on the Aberdeen Bestiary

Abstract At the Turin Colloquium the Aberdeen Bestiary project was presented as a computer demonstration. This article highlights some of the observations made during the process of digitisation. The exceptional wear on the illustration of Cedrus suggests it was of particular importance to the owner who also dictated its unusual appearance. Clues like this and stylistic features may point to Bridlington Priory as the scriptorium and perhaps Abbot Robert de Longchamp of St Mary's, York as the patron. The relative skills of the Aberdeen and Ashmoie Bestiary scribes are evaluated.