Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Chronique universelle
Text and foliate borders: France, probably Rouen, ca. 1460. Six large miniatures: Bruges, Belgium, ca. 1470-1480. Nine small miniatures, blue borders, widow’s knots, monograms, plaques, scrolls, and heraldic arms: France, possibly Rouen, ca. 1519.
MS M.224 II, fol. 1r

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Tower of Babel: visited by God -- God, with rays as nimbus, wearing papal tiara, in arc of heaven, raises right hand and with left hand points toward three angels, holding swords, harassing three workmen, one holding mallet, standing amid four pulleys (cranes) on top of Tower of Babel, partially built and cracking. Three men fall from tower, and at base are eight workmen, two standing in doorways, one with wheelbarrow, two inside treadwheel, one with bucket and shovel, and two with pickaxes. In foreground stands Nimrod, wearing helmet and armor, holding halberd in right hand and with left hand raised to his brow. In background to left is city of Babylon, with three men, including one horseman, outside walls, and three men within walls.
In right margin is a peacock, and in lower margin, flanking arms of Fran³´ois de Baraton, bear-like animal, winged, grasps tree branch, and at right, male devil, holds shield and club, with helmet (?) on ground behind him.
Margins decorated with floreate ornament; outer margins of blue, with pattern of stars and the letter S.