Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, perhaps Tours, 1500-1525
MS M.31 fol. 189r

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Christ: Crucifixion, Symbolic -- Christ, rays as cross nimbus, wearing crown of thorns and loincloth, bleeding from wounds, embraces cross with titulus INRI, on ground next to purple robe. From His mouth issues scroll inscribed O PATER CLEMENTISSIME PECATORIBUS MISERERE QVORVM INIQVITATES VOLVISTI ME PORTARE. At left, personification of Justice, wearing helmet and armor, holding flaming sword with right hand, supports her head with left hand resting on left knee, her tunic inscribed DICIAE VINE IVSTI VINDICTA. From the mouth of personification of Charity issues scroll inscribed O INFINITA CHARITAS MEE IN ETERNVM CVSTODIE HVNC PECCATREM COMMITTE. Her mantle is inscribed MISERICORDIA SVPER EXALTAT IVDICIVM. She holds branch with left hand and with right hand touches head of sinner, whose tunic is inscribed PEREGRINVS PECCATOR. The sinner, with joined hands raised, kneels, next to staff and pilgrim's hat, looking toward Christ. From his mouth issues scroll inscribed O IESV PIISSIME TVE PASSIONIS SALVTIFERE ME PARTICIPE ME EFFICE.
At right stand three men, one wearing armor, two wearing hats, each holding instrument of passion including rope, hammer and nails. One also holds shield. Above, half figure of God, wearing papal tiara with infulae, raising right hand in blessing, and holding cross surmounted globe with left hand, appears in arc of Heaven emanating rays, amid which dove of Holy Ghost flies toward Christ.
Scene in landscape with trees and with hills in distance.