Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Rouen, ca. 1500
MS M.175 fol. 17v

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Holy Kinship -- Anna, wearing veil and wimple, sits on throne (?) holding her cloak up to surround daughters and grandchildren. Virgin Mary, holding nude Christ Child sits with feet on cushion in front of Anna and is flanked by her two half sisters, and their children. At left, Mary Cleophas, veiled and wearing wimple, holding open book, stands behind James Minor, Simon, Jude, and Joseph Barsabas. At right, Mary Salome, veiled and wearing wimple, holding open book, is behind James Major, as pilgrim with hat, scrip and walking stick, and Evangelist John, holding book. The throne is flanked behind by four men: probably Alphaeus, Joseph the Carpenter, Zebedee, and Joachim, the husbands of the four women. All figures are nimbed.
Margins decorated with border of floreate and foliate ornament inhabited by hybrid man wearing hat and fantastic animal.