Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Amiens, ca. 1480
MS M.198 fol. 101r

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Evangelist, John: boiled in Oil -- John, nimbed, nude, stands with joined hands raised in vat resting on flames. Two men flank him, including one, wearing purse at waist, stirring (?) oil in vat with long rod, and the other, with sword sheathed at waist, possibly wearing breastplate decorated with boss shaped like a head, with left hand raised to his forehead and holding fire poker in left hand. In background, behind low wall, Emperor Domitian, wearing ermine-collared robe and hat, holding rod or scepter in left hand, stands flanked by two men wearing hats.
Margins with floreate and vinescroll ornament, in checkered pattern, inhabited by two birds.