Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, perhaps Langres, ca. 1485-1490
MS M.26 fol. 112v

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Christ: bearing Cross -- Christ, with crown of thorns, wearing long robe, bearing cross on left shoulder, left hand on crossbar, right hand extended, kneels on ground. Beside Him, dog runs; man before Him, pulls rope around waist of Christ. Beside Christ, Simon of Cyrene holds upright of cross with both hands. Behind Christ are: man, wearing hat, holding cloth over shoulder with right hand, and walking stick, with left hand; two horsemen, one wearing hat and hood, the other wearing pointed hood, and carrying lance; group of men, some wearing hats, some carrying spears; and two women (?) one possibly wearing wimpled veil. Walking ahead of Him is group of soldiers wearing armor and helmets and carrying spears, surrounding two thieves, their hands tied behind their backs. Scene in landscape with hill, on which two (?) figures possibly prepare hole for cross; city in background.
Miniature within arched frame.
Margins decorated with floreate and foliate ornament, including large branches, rose and columbine, and inhabited by snail, birds, and fantastic animals with faces on abdomens, and one with nude man astride, raising stick in left hand and holding reins in right hand.