Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Bible
Belgium, possibly Tournai, ca. 1270
MS G.64 fol. 6v

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Top of initial I:
Half figure of angel, nimbed, with joined hands, in trefoil gable flanked by two chimney pots (?).
Center panels of initial I, by zone:
1) Creation Scene: 1st Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, holding tripartite globe with two concentric zones, stands below trefoil gable supported by two columns. Two three-quarter figures of angels, nimbed, with joined hands flank the gable.
2) Creation Scene: 2nd Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in gesture of blessing, holding globe representing divided firmament and waters in left hand.
3) Creation Scene: 3rd Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, stands raising right hand in gesture of blessing, holding tripartite globe with left hand.
4) Creation Scene: 4th Day -- Flanked by two trees, Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, stands raising right hand in gesture of blessing, holding tripartite globe with left hand.
5) Creation Scene: 5th Day and Creation Scene: 6th Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in gesture of blessing and holding tripartite globe with left hand, stands flanked by three flying birds and four seated animals.
6) Eve: Creation -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in gesture of blessing, extends left hand to Eve, emerging from left side of Adam, resting head on right hand, reclining on ground.
7) Creation Scene: God resting -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, extending right hand, holding left hand to face, is seated on cushioned bench.
Side panels of initial I, by zone:
1) Two seraphim, nimbed, each standing on wheel.
2) Adam and Eve: commanded by God -- At left, Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, indicates tree with right hand. At right, Adam and Eve, nude, stand, looking toward Christ-Logos and the tree.
3) Adam and Eve: Fall of Man -- At left, nude Eve and Adam, holding fruit (?), flank tree.
Adam and Eve: reproved by God -- At right, head of Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, emerges from cloud. Adam, nude, covering himself with figleaf held with left hand, looks back at Christ-Logos. Top of Eve's head is visible behind Adam.
4) Adam and Eve: Expulsion -- At left, angel, nimbed, holds sword with right hand. At right, nude Adam, raising right hand, and Eve (only partially visible) look toward the angel.
5) Adam and Eve: at Labor -- At left, Eve is possibly represented twice: once, nude, raising right hand; and partially nude, wearing loincloth of skins or leaves, seated, holding distaff with left hand and spindle (?) with right. At right, Adam, wearing loincloth of skins or leaves, digs, holding handle of spade with both hands, and placing right foot on spade.
6) Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- At left, Archangel Gabriel, nimbed, stands gesturing with right hand, and looking toward right at Virgin Mary, nimbed, right hand on breast, holding book with left hand, looking toward Gabriel.
7) Christ: Nativity -- At left, Virgin Mary, nimbed (?) and veiled, semi-reclines on draped bed, reading book. Joseph the Carpenter, nimbed (?), wearing hat, holding staff with both (?) hands, sits next to the bed. Behind them, ass and ox stand behind Christ Child, crossed nimbus, swaddled, in manger on column.
Christ: Presentation -- At right, Christ Child, crossed nimbus, standing on draped altar, is held by Simeon, nimbed. Another head with nimbus is visible behind Simeon.
Bottom of initial I:
Christ: Crucifixion -- In center panel, Christ, crossed nimbus, bleeding from wounds, wearing long loincloth, is affixed with three nails to cross. He is flanked above by sun and moon, and below by Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, with joined (?) hands and Evangelist John, nimbed, possibly holding book with both hands. Scene is flanked by Personification of Church, nimbed and crowned, holding chalice with right hand and bannered cross (?) staff with left hand and by Personification of Synagogue, blindfolded, extending hands toward falling crown.
Abraham: sacrificing Isaac -- At far left, Isaac, hands and feet bound, is seated, his hair grasped by left hand of Abraham, nimbed, raising sword with right hand. He looks over his left shoulder, up toward half figure of angel, nimbed, emerging from cloud placing right hand on the sword, and indicating with left hand, ram behind Abraham.
Moses: Serpent of Brass -- At far right, Moses, nimbed and horned, indicates with right hand, idol on column, beside two male figures, wearing conical hats, foremost with joined hands.
Many scenes and figures appear below trefoil gable, some decorated with crockets and flanked by two chimney pots (?), all supported by two columns, on background of gold; initial is decorated with vining foliate ornament, and animal heads.
Beginning of Genesis.