Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, perhaps in Paris or northeastern France, ca. 1465
MS M.1003 fol. 105v

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Miniature:
Virgin Mary: Coronation -- Angel holds crown above head of Virgin Mary, nimbed, with joined hands. She kneels before Christ, cross-nimbed, wearing crown of thorns, raising right hand in blessing , and God, cross-nimbed, wearing cross surmounted, triple crowned papal tiara with infulae, holding book with right hand and cross surmounted globe with left hand. Dove of Holy Ghost, cross-nimbed, perches on top of book held by God. Behind them on three sides are angels, many with joined hands, some standing within architectural frame.
Medallions in margins, from bottom to top:
1) Virgin Mary: Death -- Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled reclines in draped bed with canopy (?). Christ, cross-nimbed, holding staff or candle in raised right hand, His left hand resting on bed, is flanked by four Apostles, nimbed, two holding candles in left hand and resting right hand on open book on bed. At foot of bed two men sit on floor, one holding open book.
2) Virgin Mary: borne to Burial -- One of ten Apostles, all nimbed, holds pole emerging from beneath cross-inscribed pall decorated with fleur-de-lis.
3) Virgin Mary: Assumption -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, with joined hands, is flanked by four angels, two hovering at her shoulders, and two appearing to lift her from the ground up toward rayed arc of heaven. All on grass beneath starry sky.
Margins decorated with floreate ornament including strawberry and inhabited by birds and insects.