Medieval Beards

The following links demonstrate the variety of styles of beards worn by men in the Middle Ages, showing bearded men ranging in social degree from peasants to princes. In order to keep this linkspage somewhat focused, I am omitting most examples relating to biblical or mythological figures, saints, grotesques, wildmen, and historical figures dating to a period far earlier than the artist’s. (Bearded men of the 16th century are on a separate linkspage.)

Men on pilgrimage are often bearded.

For additional medieval images of Jews (often depicted with beards), see Beyond the Pale: The Middle Ages.

• Geoffrey of Anjou, d. 1140
• February, March, June, and July, The Fécamp Psalter (KB 76 F 13), c. 1180
• Irish kingship ritual (fol. 28v), Islanders in a coracle (fol. 29), A cripple (fol. 30v), Topographia Hibernica (British Library Royal 13 B. VIII), c. 1220
• Several in The Life of St. Edward the Confessor (Cambridge University Library MS Ee.3.59), c. 1250-1260
• Several in The Book of Games of Alfonso X, 1251-1282
• Several in the Lancelot Cycle (Ashmole 828), beginning of the 14th century
• Several in the Manesse Codex (UBH Cod. Pal. germ. 848), 1300-1330, including Kaiser Heinrich, König Tyro von Schotten, König Wenzel von Böhmen, Graf Otto von Botenlauben, Der Markgraf von Hohenburg, Herr Heinrich von der Mure, Herr Hesso von Reinach, Herr Walther von der Vogelweide, the bonesetter for Der von Sachsendorf, Der Winsbeke, Klingsor von Ungarland, Der Tannhäuser, Der Hardegger, Der Schulmeister von Eßingen, Bruder Wernher, Der Marner, Süßkind, der Jude von Trimberg, Meister Johannes Hadlaub, Meister Konrad von Würzburg, Meister Friederich von Sonnenburg, Spervogel, and Boppe
• Ages of Man: An old man, the De Lisle Hours (PML G.50, fol. 68r), c. 1316-1331
• The Luttrell Psalter (Brit. Lib. Add. 42130), c. 1325-1340: An execution (fol. 56r), a man prodded by a spear (fol. 66r), a man giving alms (fol. 186v); a cook (fol. 207r); servers (fol. 207v), a server (fol. 208r)
• Lionel, Duke of Clarence, d. 1364
• Many of the men in Guiron le Courtois (BNF NAF 5243), c. 1370-1380
• Bezalel and Oholiab, Paduan Bible Book (British Library Add. 15277, fol. 15v), last quarter of the 14th century
• Edward, the Black Prince, d. 1376
• Many of the men in the Tacuinum Sanitatis (BNF NAL 1673), c. 1390-1400; use Mandragore and enter “Nouvelle acquisition latine 1673” in the box marked Cote, then click Chercher, then Images
• King Edward III granting the Black Prince the principality of Aquitaine (fol. 31), and King Edward III of England and David, King of Scotland, make peace in 1357, British Library Cotton Nero D. VI, c. 1386-1399
• Head from the effigy of Edward III, 1390s
• Costumes of the military order of Our Saviour's Passion, La sustance de la Passion de Jhesus Crist (Ashmole 813), fols. 2r, 3r, and 4r, end of the 14th century
• A wool merchant, c. 1400
• The frescoes at the Castello del Buonconsiglio, c. 1405-1410: details from January, January, February, May, May, June, July, July, July, August, September, November, November, November, and December.
• Geoffrey Chaucer, The Regimen of Princes (British Library Harley 4866, fol. 88), early 15th century
• Many of the men in the Tacuinum Sanitatis (BNF Latin 9333), early 15th century; use Mandragore and enter “Latin 9333” in the box marked Cote, then click Chercher, then Images
• John Gower, d. 1402
• Edmund, Duke of York, d. 1402
• Sir William Tendering, c. 1408
• The Ellesmere Chaucer, c. 1410: the Knight, the Merchant, the Franklin, the Shipman, the Miller, the Manciple, the Summoner, and Chaucer. (See Garments and Armor in the Canterbury Tales elsewhere on this website.)
• Several of the pilgrims in the Liber peregrinationis (BNF Fr. 2810), c. 1410-1412; use Mandragore and enter “Français 2810” in the box marked Cote, then click Chercher, then Images
• Most of the men in the Mendel and Landauer Housebooks wear beards.
• Detail from The Mérode Altarpiece by Robert Campin, c. 1427
• Portrait of a goldsmith by Jan van Eyck, c. 1430
• Geoffrey Chaucer, The Regement of Princes (British Library Royal 17 D. VI, fol. 93v), c. 1430-1440
• The Decameron (BNF Arsenal 5070), 1432: a cook, and fols. 108v, 132, 347
• Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg by Pisanello, c. 1433
• Portrait of a Carthusian by Petrus Christus, 1446
• Many of the men in the Schachzabelbuch of Konrad von Ammenhausen (WLB Cod.poet. 2° 2), 1467; use Bildindex and search for “schachzabelbuch”
• Self-portrait at 26 by Albrecht Dürer, 1498
• Self-portrait in a fur-collared robe by Albrecht Dürer, 1500

Click here to continue to the 16th century beards!