Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of hours
France, Lyons, 1484
MS M.1162. Fol. 063r

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Christ: Nativity -- Joseph the Carpenter, with hands raised, and Virgin Mary, nimbed, with hands clasped, kneel beneath canopy, looking down at Christ Child, nude, with arms crossed over His breast, lying in wattled crib; heads of ox and ass visible before wattled fence.
Interior scene with hole in roof and arched portal of building; in background, ships and rowboats on river, and castle on hill.
Miniature within architectural frame, enclosing two standing figures, possibly prophets, in architectural niches.
Bottom of frame is inscribed with incipit of D(EV)S IN ADIVT(ORIVM) MEV(M) INTENDE from Psalm 70:01 (Vulg., 69:02).