Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter
France, probably Paris, ca. 1270s
MS M.101 fol. 21r

See more information »

Center, ovals enclosing:
1) Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, cross-nimbed, eyes closed, head inclined, in loin cloth, is affixed with three nails to green cross,
He is flanked by Virgin mary, nimbed, veiled, with hands clasped and Evangelist John, nimbed, with right hand raised to face and book in left hand. Crescent moon and sun above. Proscenium arch below.
2) Christ: Deposition -- Christ, cross-nimbed, in loin cloth, has left arm and feet affixed to green cross.He is flanked by Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, holding His right arm, and Evangelist John, nimbed, holding book in left hand.
Joseph of Arimathea supports His torso. Nicodemus kneels with pincers (?) extracting nail from His feet. Sun and crescent moon above. Proscenium arch below.
3) Christ: Entombment -- Beside jar, Joseph of Arimathea, wearing pointed cap, anoints with left hand body of Christ, unnimbed, lowered on shroud into sarcophagus by two of two groups of men. Proscenium arch below and arches above.
4) Christ: Resurrection -- Christ, cross-nimbed, wearing mantle, with right hand raised and cross in left hand, steps from sarcophagus. Two angels with joined hands raised flank Him. Proscenium arch below and arches above.
Scenes with gold backgrounds.
Frame, medallions enclosing:
Four figures of prophets, evangelists, or apostles, three holding scrolls and one holding book, all gesturing, seated on benches, beneath trefoil arches. Diapered backgrounds.
Full-page background decorated with diapered spandrels,and with center quatrefoil and four lateral half-trefoils enclosing foliage with beast heads and dragons on gold grounds, all within decorated frame.