The artwork, “Allegorical Conclusion of the Christological Cycle: The Bird and the Snake,” created by the artist Ende around the year 975, belongs to the Mozarabic art movement and falls under the genre of miniature. This piece is part of the series “Gerona Beatus, 975.”
The artwork showcases a vividly colored bird with elaborate plumage standing poised in opposition to a coiled snake. The bird, adorned with a detailed pattern of blue, red, and gold, displays an intricate, fan-shaped tail adorned with star-like motifs. Its beak fiercely grips the head of the snake, which is rendered in a more muted palette of browns and tans, accentuating a sense of conflict. To the left of the bird, a slender tree with delicate blossoms extends upwards, suggesting a scene of life and nature intertwined with the themes of struggle and victory depicted by the bird and the snake. The overall composition reflects the intricate and symbolic style characteristic of Mozarabic illuminated manuscripts.
