Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1500
MS M.390 fol. 61v

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Magi: Adoration -- Two men, one wearing hat, stand behind two magi, including one kneeling, holding crown in right hand, and the other black, holding crown and vessel. Before them, and beside crown on ground, kneels third magus, with joined hands raised to nude infant Christ Child, nimbed, seated on towel on lap of Virgin May, with rays as nimbus, veiled. Behind her stands Joseph the Carpenter, nimbed, holding vessel. Scene before barn, in which are ox and ass. Star in sky to left.
Margins with scattered flowers, including cornflower and strawberry, and inhabited by insects, including butterfly, caterpillar, and beetle.
Escutcheon with arms of Jean Carondelet (azure a fasce and six bezants or en orle, an archiepiscopal cross in pale beneath the shield), with the motto MATURA and the initials IC.