Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Litterae ducales donationis ad monasterium Sanctae Mariae Gratiarum
Italy, Milan, between 1499 and 1541
MS M.434 fol. 9r

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Scene, Ecclesiastic: Reading -- Monk, in central seat, possibly below lamp, sits on bench, looking at open book with seal, held with both hands on his lap. He is flanked by ten monks, tonsured, three hooded, some with head down, some with head lifted, some looking at neighbor. All wear Dominican habit, and all sit on bench lining walls of room, as in chapter house.
Miniature framed in illusionistic wood frame decorated with floreate ornament.
Lower margin:
1) Cartouche with charges of Sforza arms (argent a serpent azure swallowing a child gules) and (or three eagles sable)
2) Impaled arms of Ludovico Sforza (quartered one and four or three eagles sable per pale, two and three argent a serpent azure swallowing a child gules) and his wife Beatrice d'Este (quartered one and four azure fleur de lis or with a border gules, two and three azure eagle argent) surmounted by crown. Escutcheon is surrounded by inscription LV(DOVICUS) MA(RIA) BE(ATRICE) ES(TENSE) SF(ORZA) AN(GLUS) DU(X) M(EDIO)L(AN)I
3) Cartouche with charges of Sforza arms (argent a serpent azure swallowing a child gules) and (or eagle sable).