Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1470
MS H.7 fol. 15v

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Christ: Crucifixion, One Cross, with Virgin Mary, Evangelist John, Longinus, Holy Women, and Mary Magdalen -- Christ, nimbed, wearing crown of thorns and short loin cloth, bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nails to cross with titulus inscribed INRI.
At left, Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, swoons in arms of Evangelist John, nimbed, both standing in front of two holy women, both nimbed and veiled, one with joined hands. Longinus the Soldier, wearing hat, with left hand indicates his left eye, and with spear in right hand pierces Christ's side.
At right, Mary Magdalen, nimbed, kneels, with her arms grasping lower stem of the cross, beside ointment jar on ground. Longinus of Jerusalem (Centurion), wearing helmet and breastplate, stands, holding spear in right hand and shield in left hand, looking toward Christ. Behind him, man, wearing hat, indicating Christ with raised hands, stands beside two soldiers, wearing armor, one holding shield and the other wearing helmet.
Buildings of Jerusalem in background.
Margins decorated with floreate border inhabited by moth and by hybrid man, wearing hat, with body of bird with second face in breast.