Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 71v

See more information »

Upper vignette:
Joshua: crossing Jordan (OT, Joshua 04:08) -- Three men, wearing hats, carry stones on their shoulders. Behind them is group of figures carrying stones (only tops of heads and stones visible). Stones on ground in foreground.
Lower vignette:
Joshua: Stones at Gilgal -- Ark of Covenant, decorated with carved figures, sits atop mound of stones in landscape setting, within architectural frame.
Caption between vignettes reads, DOUZE DOUZE PIERRES PORTERENT ET TOUT BOUTEIET EN VNG LIEU LA OU VNG AUTEL ARDONNERENT OU FUT NUSE LARCHE DE DIEU.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including violas, thistles, cornflowers, roses, and strawberries, inhabited by bird and by monkey (?), wearing hood, playing rebec. In right margin is scroll inscribed with pseudo-inscription.
Heads of fanstastic animal and bird within decorated initial I and dog head within decorated initial Q.