Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Rouen, ca. 1470
MS M.1093 fol. 139r

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Herod Antipas: Feast, Salome delivering Head -- Herod, wearing hat with crown around brim, with right hand raised, beside queen, wearing jeweled turban surmounted by crown, pointing with right hand, sits before brocade cloth behind draped table upon which are cup, plate of food, loaf, and salt cellar. Before the table stands Salome, holding with both hands charger upon which is head of John the Baptist. Scene in palace with leaded-glass windows and pinnacles on exterior. In front stands dog, possibly greyhound. To right, man, wearing hat, sheathes sword and looks toward headless, bleeding body on ground. In background are other buildings.
Initial O inhabited by peacock.
Margins with foliate ornament inhabited by beetle; bird; bear, climbing tree toward cock; two birds with wings extended; fly; man, wearing pointed hat, kneeling on one knee beside fantastic animal, resembling aardvark, with face at end of tail; dragonfly; peacock; and snail.