Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Bible
England, Oxford, ca. 1220
MS M.791 fol. 145v

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1) Holofernes: Council of War -- Heads of four men, two wearing hats, emerge behind Holofernes, wearing hat, raising right hand, holding foliate scepter in left hand, sitting on chair. Opposite, man, wearing hat, stands extending right arm toward Holofernes. Behind him stand three soldiers each holding spear, one holding shield.
2) Holofernes: Army departing -- Five soldiers stand holding spear; foremost holds shield. They follow eight (?) mounted soldiers, three holding lance, one raising sword in right hand and two (?) with shields.
3) Judith: going to Holofernes -- Five men stand on crenellated wall of city of Bethulia; in the portal another man extends right hand toward maid, veiled, and Judith, both holding vessel. Soldier, holding sword in right hand, with left hand grasps left arm of Judith.
4) Judith: before Holofernes -- Judith, with joined hands extended, kneels before Holofernes, wearing hat, raising right hand, holding foliate scepter in left hand.
5) Judith: slaying Holofernes -- Below, right, Judith, raising sword in right hand, stands next to bed on which Holofernes, eyes closed, reclines, her left hand on his head. Scabbard hangs from post at head of bed. To left, maid and Judith place head of Holofernes in sack (?).
6) Judith: showing Head of Holofernes -- At left, four men stand on crenellated wall of city of Bethulia, the foremost raising right hand and placing left hand on head of Holofernes held by Judith, with maid, veiled, in portal.
Scenes within initial A partially formed by two interlocking fantastic animals against background of gold, decorated with foliate ornament.
Prologue initial A contains bird.
Beginning of Judith.