Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of hours
France, Rouen, ca. 1460-1470
MS M.1160. Fol. 105r

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Personification of Death, as skeleton, body partly draped, holds bow in left hand and with right hand aims arrow at group of men, including crowned king, pope wearing papal tiara, raising left arm to shield face and holding cross-staff in left hand, and emperor, wearing imperial crown, with arms crossed on his breast, accompanied by two men.
Scene on path in landscape with large hill and trees and city in background.
Right margin:
Within medallion, among three tonsured priests, one holds cross in right hand, and one holds processional cross in clasped hands, standing beside group of five hooded mourners, one wiping face with draped hand, in foreground, man wearing hat lowers corpse, as mummy, into ground, all before wall in landscape.