Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Saint-Omer, between 1320 and 1329
MS M.754 fol. 11r

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Apostle Paul, nimbed, standing with left hand holding sword, with right hand raised, and looking toward cross-nimbed dove of Holy Ghost emerging from clouds at left.
Figure against gold diapered background, in decorated initial D with ascender of headless hybrid animal and beneath architectural frame of multifoiled arch with pinnacles, flanked by two waterspouts, all on diapered panel.
Beginning of first versicle of Terce of Long Hours of the Holy Spirit.
Margins decorated with curvilinear foliate stems, balls, and bottom bar of scrolling foliage.
Margin, upper, inhabited by long-eared hybrid animal exposing anus, with hoofs clasping foliate stem.
Margin, left, inhabited by two birds, and hybrid rabbit with looped neck.
Margin, lower, inhabited by burlesque scene of four monkeys dancing; below, hybrid animal head; two bells hanging from foliate stems; two-headed musician blowing two trumpets; hybrid male musician playing pipe and tabor.
Margin, right, inhabited by female donor (donee?), wearing veiled headdress, with joined hands raised in prayer toward left, kneeling on foliate stem, beside hybrid man, and above, two birds.