Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Saint-Omer, between 1320 and 1329
MS M.754 fol. 69v

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Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, cross-nimbed, eyes closed, head inclined, wearing long loin cloth, blood flowing from wounds in hands, side, and feet, affixed with three nails to green cross with titulus, flanked by Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, with left hand raised, and Evangelist John, nimbed, with hands raised; above, sun and crescent moon amid clouds.
Scene against gold diapered background, within trefoil arch in gable with oculus in spandrel, surmounted by tower with double lancets, buttresses, finial, and pinnacles, flanked by two waterspouts of animal heads, all overlapping initial D with foliate ascender of headless animal hybrid, within diapered panel.
Beginning of first versicle of None of Long Hours of the Cross / Hours of the Passion.
Initial B decorated with foliate, at beginning of Hymn, Beata cuius brachiis precium pependit.
Margins decorated with foliate stems, balls, and bottom bar of scrolling foliage.
Margin, left, inhabited by youth with right hand raised to face, and female donor (donee ?), wearing headdress, holding open book with both hands, kneeling, on foliate stem.
Margin, lower, inhabited by hybrid snail, seated youth flanked by two dragons; below, monkey with bellows blowing fire, and head of animal head with tusk.
Margin, right, inhabited by bird and snail.