Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1460
M.387 fol. 80v

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Thomas à Becket: murdered before High Altar -- Thomas Becket, nimbed and tonsured, with joined hands, wearing vestments, stands before draped altar, on which is open book and chalice covered with corporal and resting on burse. Soldier wearing headgear stabs Becket in head with knife. Of two other soldiers, one holds halberd and the other holds sword halfway out of sheath. Acolyte, tonsured stands at right holding broken processional cross.
Margins decorated with floreate border inhabited by bird. Scroll inscribed OCCIDERUNT EU(M) I(N)T(ER) TEMPLU(M) ET ALTARE M(ATTHEUS) XXIII (Matthew 23:35, variant)