Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

La vérité à la place des ombres
France, Paris, 1679
MS M.21 fol. 22r

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A monstrance casting a golden aureole, with a bouquet of flowers on either side, stands on a base to which are tied two partially draped male figures, before which two lions couchant flank a bundle of wheat. On either side of the base are emblems of the Passion, including Christ’s garment, column, scourge, Veronica’s veil, spear with sponge, cross, ladder, glove, lantern, torch, pincers, banner, and pitcher and basin. Above cherubs cavort among bunches of grapevines. A slab of variegated marble below contains a white tablet with the quatrain. All is within a frame of burnished and dull gold.