Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter
England, Canterbury, 1155-1160
MS M.521r

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ZONE 1:
1a) Christ: Miracle of healing Blind Men Two -- Two blind men sit on ground, holding staves.
1b) Christ: Miracle of healing Blind Men Two -- Five nimbed apostles stand behind Christ, cross-nimbed, raising right hand, blessing and touching eyes of one of two blind men, each holding tau-staff.
2a) Christ: Apostles plucking Corn -- Christ, nimbed, with right hand raised, stands beside four nimbed apostles plucking grain.
2b) Christ: Apostles plucking Corn -- Five apostles stand behind Christ, cross-nimbed, addressed by six Pharisees.
3a) Christ: Miracle of healing Man with withered Hand -- Five apostles stand behind Christ, cross-nimbed, raising right hand toward man holding up swollen and spotted right hand, standing in front of group of Pharisees beside cross-inscribed draped altar; all in temple surmounted by crosses.
3b) Christ: Miracle of healing Demoniac, Blind and Dumb -- Five apostles stand beside Christ, cross-nimbed, facing man holding rope binding hands of dumb man with open mouth and blind man with hands on shoulders of the dumb; two men stand behind the blind man.
Scenes in frames decorated with abstract ornament.

ZONE 2:
1a) Christ: Miracle of Loaves -- Four apostles, one holding book in left hand, stand behind Christ, cross-nimbed, holding cross-inscribed loaf and two fishes in left hand, raising right hand in blessing, and facing male figure, possibly apostle, holding loaves in mantle, at head of group of men.
1b) Christ: Miracle of Loaves -- Group of men and veiled women sit behind tablecloth while two youths gather up loaves.
2a) Christ: praying on Mountain -- Christ, cross-nimbed, prostrate on mountain, extends hands toward Hand of God issuing from arc of heaven.
2b) Christ: Miracle of walking on Water -- Christ, nimbed, walking on water, extends right hand toward Apostle Peter, nimbed, stepping from boat in which sit nine nimbed apostles; four fishes and eel in water.
3a) Christ: Miracle of Canaanite Woman -- Group of apostles stands behind Christ, cross-nimbed, holding book in both hands. His feet are grasped by prostrate veiled Canaanite woman; daughter of the Canaanite woman, nude, stands with hands bound to column of building.
3b) Christ: Miracle of Canaanite Woman -- Five men, sit at table on which are cross-inscribed loaves, bowls and jars; one holds jar, two touch food, and one raises cup toward his lips; in foreground, five dogs eat crumbs.
Scenes in frames decorated with abstract ornament.

ZONE 3:
1a) Apostle Peter: receiving Keys -- Seven apostles, one holding book, flank Apostle Peter receiving two keys from Christ, cross-nimbed, holding book in left hand; all sit.
1b) Christ: Transfiguration -- Apostles Peter and James and Evangelist John sit beside Christ, cross-nimbed, with right hand raised in blessing and book in left hand, seated in mandorla, beside Moses, horned, and Elijah, both standing. All on mountain.
2a) Christ: Parable, Unmerciful Servant -- Four men stand behind king, wearing pointed hat, holding scroll in left hand, seated on cushioned bench in portal. His feet are grasped by prostrate servant. To right, man holds rope binding hands of servant; second servant pushes fellow-servant, with hands bound, into prison.
2b) Christ: Parable, Unmerciful Servant -- Armed bodyguard with spear stands behind king, wearing pointed hat, holding scroll in left hand, and with right hand addressing servant. To right, man, with club in right hand, holds rope binding hands of servant entering prison.
3a) Christ: Parable, Laborers in Vineyard -- Three men stand in portal; one's hand is grasped by householder, wearing pointed hat. Three men labor in vineyard.
3b) Christ: Parable, Laborers in Vineyard -- Householder, wearing pointed hat, gives coins (money) to steward. To right, five men sit on ground, and steward gives coins to one of them.
Scenes in frames decorated with abstract ornament.

ZONE 4:
1a) Christ: delivering Adulteress -- Three scribes and Pharisees, wearing hats, with three nimbed apostles, including Peter, stand beside Christ, cross-nimbed, with book in left hand, raising right forefinger, facing man holding right wrist of veiled adulteress; group of men, including one holding stone, stand behind the adulteress.
1b) Christ: delivering Adulteress -- Four nimbed apostles, one holding standard, stand beside Christ, cross-nimbed, writing with right forefinger on ground before veiled adulteress; behind her are pile of stones and group of men, one holding stone, departing to right.
2a) Christ: Parable, Lazarus and Dives -- Rich man, holding knife and bowl, is flanked by two veiled women, one holding bowl and ther other holding loaf; all sit at table on which are cross-inscribed loaves, knife, cup and jar; in foreground, kneeling servant offers fish in platter. At doorway, two dogs lick sores of Lazarus leaning on staff.
To right, nimbed angel emerges from arc of heaven, carrying on cloth soul of Lazarus; below, Lazarus, covered with sores, lies dead in bed on ground.
2b) Christ: Parable, Lazarus and Dives -- Flying winged demon grasps soul of rich man, above Dives lying dead in bed, before female attendant.
To right, Abraham, seated in arc of heaven, holds soul of Lazarus in bosom; below, two demons torture Damned with pitchforks in flaming Hell.
3a) Christ: Parable, Prodigal Son -- Father, seated on bench, gives object to prodigal son standing before him. Prodigal son, with bundle on staff over shoulder, walks off to right. Within building, two veiled women flank prodigal son, holding cup; all sit at table on which are loaves, one cross-inscribed, and two bowls.
3b) Christ: Parable, Prodigal Son -- Prodigal son, holding staff, sits on hillock tending swine. To right, prodigal son is embraced by father taking ring from servant holding garment.
3c) Christ: Parable, Prodigal Son -- Servant with axe kills fattened calf. To right, prodigal son, father holding bowl, two men, and two musicians holding rebec and hurdy-gurdy sit at draped table on which are loaves and bowls (banquet). To right, father, wearing cap, addresses elder son.
Scenes in frames decorated with abstract ornament.