Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Egmont breviary
Netherlands, Utrecht, ca. 1440
MS M.87 fol. 249v

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Column, right: Abraham: Scene, meeting Melchisedek -- Beneath rays and emerging from gate of palace, Melchisedek, crowned, wearing cloak fastened with morse, with right hand holding chalice, and with left hand extending round loaf to extended right hand of Abraham as soldier, helmeted, wearing full armor and sword in scabbard tied to waist, kneeling. In background, among group of soldiers, wearing full armor, the foremost holding shield with left hand and with right hand holding spear, at least five others holding spears, one decorated with heraldic flag. Scene in hilly landscape four men, wearing hats and three holding bannered lances, are mounted on bridled horses. Another two men, wearing hats, holding possibly bannered lances, walk in landscape; all before crenellated castle walls enclosing buildings. Miniature for beginning of Vespers for Feast of Corpus Christi. Margins decorated on three sides with scrolling floreate and foliate decoration, inhabited by half figure of angel, emerging from cloud, playing harp, amid figures of hybrid men or animals emerging from foliage (left); and half figure of angel, emerging from cloud, playing lute, flanked by half figures of two men, gesturing, amid foliage (lower).