Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Saint-Omer, between 1320 and 1329
MS M.754 fol. 74v

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Christ: Entombment -- Joseph of Arimathea pouring from vessel on torso of Christ, cross-nimbed, eyes open, wearing long loin cloth, lying on sarcophagus, with His foot grasped by one of two men at each end.
Scene against gold, blue, and pink diapered background, within cinquefoil arch of crocketed gable with quatrefoil oculus in spandrel, surmounted by tower with windows, finial, pinnacles, and pair of animal spouts, one spouting foliage stem, all overlapping initial D with ascender of headless hybrid animal, within diapered panel.
Beginning of second versicle of Compline of Long Hours of the Cross / Hours of the Passion.
Initial E decorated with foliage, at beginning of Psalm 134 (Vulg., 133), Ecce nunc benedicite domini.
Margins decorated with foliate stems, balls, and bottom bar of scrolling foliage.
Margin, left, inhabited by dog, female donor (donee ?), wearing headdress, holding open book with both hands, kneeling on initial descender.
Margin, lower, inhabited by male musician carrying psaltery, rabbit in burrow, and monkey with rake beside object, possibly stool basket, and tonsured hybrid cleric; below, hybrid bird with human legs exposing hindquarters, snail, and nun with club (?) in right hand and left hand raised.
Margin, right, inhabited by butterfly.
Line ending decorated.