Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, ca. 1480
MS M.136 fol. 85r

See more information »

Christ: Flight into Egypt -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, seated sideways on ass, holds partially draped Christ Child, with crossed nimbus, in right hand, and possibly offers her breast to Him with left hand. Leading the ass is Joseph the Carpenter, wearing cap, holding reins in left hand and staff in right hand. In background is farmer, holding hat in left hand and sickle in right hand, standing beside cornfield and before armored soldiers mounted on horses. On hill is idol falling from column.
Margins with foliate and vinescroll ornament, inhabited by hybrid man, wearing helmet covering his eyes, with sword sheathed across his back and holding shield in right hand; and hybrid animal with bird as front half.