Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Italy, possibly the Veneto, ca. 1425-1450
MS M.1089 fol. 118v

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Christ: Last Judgment (?) -- Amid rays, Christ, crossed nimbus, wearing crown of thorns, bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nail to cross. Blood from wounds on His feet falls into chalice below, resting on draped altar.
To His right, two angels hold cloth between them, carrying two nude souls, with joined hands. Devil holds, with both hands, broken cord, the other end of which is around neck of penitent, with joined hands, kneeling before tonsured cleric indicating upward with left hand. Next to them, in foreground, man with joined hands, kneels, receiving wafer (host), on which is dove, from right hand of tonsured cleric, holding paten (?) with left hand.
To His left, two devils hover, each holding nude soul, possibly biting arms of the souls. Another devil holds, with both hands, cord, the other end of which is around neck of penitent, with joined hands, kneeling before tonsured cleric, right hand on breast. Behind them, man with joined hands kneels, receiving wafer (host), on which is black six-legged insect (?), from tonsured cleric.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament.