Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Prayer book
France, Paris, ca. 1490
MS H.3 fol. 182v

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Innocents: Massacre -- Herod the Great, wearing hat with crown, is seated on throne, holding scimitar with right hand and raising left hand. Before him, soldier wearing helmet, raises sword on which nude infant is impaled. Another soldier with sword in right hand, pierces nude infant, holding its right arm with his left hand. Woman, veiled, holds the infant with her left hand and extends left hand to head of the soldier. Third nude infant, bleeding from wounds, reclines on floor in foreground.