Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 60r

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Upper vignette:
Christ: Entombment -- Christ, rays as nimbus, wearing loin cloth, bleeding from wounds, is lowered into tomb by two male figures, possibly Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, holding Christ's head and feet with draped hands.
Behind Christ is Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, with clasped hands raised; Evangelist John, nimbed; and three holy women, veiled (of two, only tops of heads visible).
Scene in landscape setting, within architectural frame.
Lower vignette:
Joseph: cast into Pit -- Joseph, in well, joined hands raised, is surrounded by eight of his brothers, wearing hats, one touching Joseph with both hands and one raising his left forefinger. Of three of the brothers, only tops of heads are visible.
Caption between vignettes reads, JOSEPH EN LA FOSSE BOUTE FIGURE IESUS ESTRE MIS AU TUMBIAN A PREZ LA DURTE SOUFFERTE PAR SES ENNEMYS.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including columbines, strawberries, and grapevines, inhabited by fantastic animal emerging from flower and hybrid animal with fly on its back.
Dog (?) heads in initials D and G. Daisies in initial V.