Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 88r

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Upper register:
David: warned of Plagues -- Female figure (Personification of War), wears helmet and armor and holds spear in right hand and hilt of sword at her waist in left hand. Beside her is skeleton (Personification of Pestilence), holding spade (?) in right hand, and woman, wearing torn garments (Personification of Hunger or Famine).
They stand facing David, wearing crown, hands crossed over his breast, seated in draped throne, beside Gad, wearing hat, raising right forefinger. Harp on ground beside throne.
Scene in room with portal open onto landscape setting with buildings of city in distance.
Lower register:
David: slinging at Goliath -- Goliath, wearing armor, holding hilt of scimitar with his left hand, reclines on ground. A stone is on his forehead.
At right is David, holding stone in left hand and sling in right hand.
Scene in landscape setting
Miniatures within architectural frame with statues of nude male figures above columns and statue of half figure of man in niche above upper register.
Male head, wearing hat, within decorated intial D.