Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1460
M.387 fol. 82v

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Stephen Protomartyr: Stoning -- Stephen, nimbed and tonsured, bleeding from wound in head, wearing deacon's vestments, hands raised, kneels next to scroll inscribed ECCE UIDEO IHESUM STANTE(M) A DEXTRIS UIRTUT(IS) DEI ACT(US) UII (Acts of the Apostles 7:55). Stephen is surrounded by three executioners, one wearing headgear, raising stone with right hand, another wearing helmet, with sword at waist, raising stone with both hands, and the third, wearing turban like headgear bending over to pick up stone with both hands from ground. Above, half-figure of God, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, holding tripartite globe with left hand appears in cloud-edged arc of Heaven; rays descend from God toward Stephen. Saul, wearing headgear is seated on garments at right.
Scene in landscape with trees.
Margins decorated with floreate border inhabited by bird. Two scrolls inscribed DOMINE NE STATUAS EIS HOC P(E)CC(ATU)M NO(N) ENIM SCIUNT QUID FACIUNT ACTUU(M) UII (Acts of the Apostles 7:59, variant); LAPIDAUERU(N)T EU(M) FILII IS(RA)EL ET MORTUIS EST II P(AR)AL(IPOMENON) X (II Chronicles 10:18; Vulg., II Paralipomenon 10:18).