Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter
France, probably Paris, ca. 1270s
MS M.101 fol. 16v

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Center, ovals enclosing:
1) Christ: Presentation -- Female attendant holds basket of doves, behind Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, extending above altar Christ Child, cross-nimbed, to draped hands of nimbed Simeon. Proscenium arch below.
2) Christ: Flight into Egypt -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, seated sideways on bridled ass, holds Christ Child, cross-nimbed, standing on her lap.
He places His left hand on right arm of Joseph the Carpenter, carrying draped staff over left shoulder, departing to right. Arches above.
3) Christ: among Doctors -- Christ Child, cross-nimbed (?), as adolescent, in white garments, sits on bench with footstool, raising right hand toward three doctors, wearing pointed hats, gesturing; one holds book. Arches above.
4) Innocents: Massacre -- Two men, one wearing cap, raise sword in right hand and grasp infant with left hand; mother, wearing berbette, extends hands toward the executioner and infant at left.
Head of infant on proscenium arch below. Arches above.
Scenes with gold backgrounds.
Frame, medallions enclosing:
Four figures of prophets, evangelists, or apostles holding scrolls and gesturing, all seated on benches beneath trefoil arches. Diapered backgrounds.
Full-page background decorated with diapered spandrels, and with center quatrefoil and four lateral half-trefoils enclosing foliage with beast heads and dragons on gold grounds, all within decorated frame.