Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
England, probably Oxford, ca. 1325-1330
MS M.700 fol. 2r

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Weighing of Soul -- Archangel Michael, pearled scalloped nimbus, holds scales, in one of which is nude soul raising joined hands, being pulled with hook by three-headed bestial devil, and in the other of which is bestial devil.
They are flanked by Hawisia du Bois, wearing wimpled veil, and husband, both wearing heraldic garments (du Bois family of Lincoln), kneeling as donors with joined hands raised.
Figures against diapered background, beneath trefoil arch of trefoiled cusps and heraldic spandrels (argent two bars and in chief three besants gules).
Frames, decorated with geometric ornament of x's and with sprigs of three pointed trefoliate leaves, include barbed quatrefoils enclosing busts of two crowned kings at center of top and bottom, busts of two veiled crowned queens at center of sides, and enclosing four heraldic escutcheons at corners, representing du Bois (argent, two bars and a canton gules).