Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 126v

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Upper vignette:
Mattathias: commanded to sacrifice -- Mattathias, wearing miter and priest's robes, extends hands toward his five (?) sons, one holding hat in right hand and extending left hand. Two have only tops of heads visible. Scene in room with column.
Lower vignette:
Mattathias: mourning over Jerusalem -- Of the five sons of Mattathias, two wear sacks and three have only tops of heads visible. They kneel (?) before Mattathias, wearing sack. Scene in landscape setting.
Caption between vignettes reads, MATHATIAS LE DIGNE PRESTRE ET SES CINQ FILS VOYA(N)S LE CAS CONTRA LE LOW DE DIEU ACROISTRE SE DUEIL SE VESTIRENT DE SACS.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including grapevines, inhabited by bird and by hybrid bird.
Fantastic animal in decorated initial T.