Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 58r

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Upper vignette:
Crucifixion, One Cross, with Virgin Mary and Evangelist John -- Christ, rays as nimbus, wearing crown of thorns, eyes closed (?), in loin cloth, is affixed with three nails to cross surmounted by titulus INRI. His blood flows from wounds in hands, feet, and side.
At left is Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, with crossed hands raised to her breast, beside John Evangelist, nimbed. At right is man, possibly Longinus of Jerusalem, wearing hat, holding shield in right hand and raising left forefinger.
Behind are group of soldiers, wearing helmets and holding spears (only tops of heads of all but one visible).
Cresent moon appears in sky at right (sun not depicted).
Lower vignette:
Abraham: sacrificing Isaac -- Abraham, wearing hat, raises sword in right hand, which is grasped by both hands of half-figure of angel in sky. Below, Isaac kneels with joined hands raised. Scene in landscape setting.
Caption between vignettes reads, ABRAHAM PAR OBEDIENCE VOULUT SON FILS SACRIFICIER DIEU LE PERE PAR SE CLEMENCE SOUFFEIT IESUS CRUCIFIER.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including cornflowers, daisies, and grapevines, inhabited by fly and monkey, wearing collar and holding walking stick in both hands, with a basket with two infant monkeys on his back.
Dog (?) head within decorated intitial D.