Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita Christi (Life of Christ)
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1487-1490
MS M.894 fol. 83v

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Christ: Parable, Laborers in Vineyard -- Two scenes, from left to right:
1) Householder, standing, right hand raised, pouch at waist, leaning on staff, addresses five laborers, standing, wearing hats.
2) Householder's steward, hat removed, standing on step, offers penny to laborer with mattock, flanked by two other laborers, one with pruning hook, and the other with mattock.
Both scenes within walled-in yard with house at right with people peering form three of the windows and two men on the porch.
In the background, laborer with mattock walks on road toward four laborers tending vines at upper left beside lake with man boating, in landscape with city and trees.
Illustration of Matthew 20:01-16.