Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1420-1425
MS M.1004 fol. 89v

See more information »

Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, nimbed, head inclined, wearing short loin cloth, blood issuing from wound in side, is affixed with three nails to cross. He is flanked by two thieves, wearing short loin cloths, arms tied over top of tau crosses. The left thief (Dysmas) on left looks up; the right thief (Gestas) looks down. At base of the cross are bones and skull.
At left are: three soldiers, wearing helmets and carrying spears; Mary Magdalen, nimbed, head bowed, hands clasped; Virgin Mary, nimbed, arms raised toward Christ, supported by Evangelist John, nimbed.
At right are: the Centurion, wearing conical hat, and with sheathed saber at waist, with left hand extended pointing toward the Christ; two men, one wearing hat, with pouch at waist, with right hand raised toward the Christ, and the other wearing headgear; and five (?) soldiers, wearing helmets, holding spears, one with banner, and one holding shield decorated with animal face.
Scene is within landscape with trees, and castle and church on mountain in background.
Margins decorated with border of foliate and floreate ornament, including strawberry and rose. Within border, barbed quatrefoils, enclosing fantastic animal, hybrid animal with dog head and bird body, dragon, bust of man.
Added probably after 1451, heraldic shields of France, France impaling Savoy, Savoy, Savoy with label of three points impaling France in barbed quatrefoils in corners of margins.