Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter
England, East Anglia or London, ca. 1300-1310
MS M.302 fol. 1r

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In four compartments:
1) Creation Scene -- Within globe divided by line, Christ-Logos, pearled crossed nimbus, within globe, raises crescent moon, held in right hand, and sun, held in left hand. Standing in water with fishes, He is flanked by oak tree with acorn, on left, and rabbit, ram, ass and ox, on right. Upper half of globe outlined in wavy lines, suggesting heavenly clouds.
2) Eve: Creation -- Christ-Logos, pearled crossed nimbus, grasps, with right hand, arm of Eve, joined hands raised, emerging from side of Adam, sleeping, head resting in left hand. Christ-Logos raises left hand above head of Eve, extending thumb, index and middle finger.
3) Adam and Eve: Fall of Man -- Adam and Eve, each holding fruit to mouth, flank tree with female-headed serpent [Lilith] entwined around trunk. Eve extends third fruit, held in left hand, to Adam, grasping it with his extended right hand.
4) Adam and Eve: Expulsion -- With sword held in raised right hand, angel, pearled nimbus, expels Adam and Eve from Paradise. Adam, turning head toward angel, raises right hand. Eve covers face with right hand and genitals with fig leaf held in left hand.
Scenes with patterned backgrounds and within architectural frames decorated with rosettes.