Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter
France, probably Paris, ca. 1270s
MS M.101 fol. 14v

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Center, ovals enclosing:
1) Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Archangel Gabriel holds book in left hand and raises right hand toward Virgin Mary, veiled, with hands raised. Both, unnimbed, stand on proscenium arch, flanking vase, beneath arches.
2) Virgin Mary: Visitation -- Elizabeth places hands on torso of Virgin Mary. Both, nimbed and veiled, stand on proscenium arch.
3) Christ: Nativity -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, reclines on draped mattress, before Christ Child, swaddled, in architectural manger in front of ass and ox (heads only).
To right, Joseph the Carpenter, nimbed, wearing hat, seated, raises right hand. Proscenium arch below.
4) Shepherds: Annunciation -- Nimbed angel, emerging from right, extends scroll in left hand toward one of two shepherds, seated with pedum in right hand and left hand raised; the other, hooded, stands, looking up; flock.
Scenes with gold backgrounds.
Frame, medallions enclosing:
Four figures of prophets, evangelists, or apostles, one a prophet (?), wearing pointed cap, holding book, and three others holding scrolls; all seated on benches beneath trefoil arches. Diapered backgrounds.
Full-page background decorated with diapered spandrels, and with center quatrefoil and four lateral half-trefoils enclosing foliage with beast heads on gold grounds, all within decorated frame.