Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Italy, Florence, between 1490 and 1499
MS M.14 fol. 131r

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Scene, Liturgical: Obsequies -- Historiated initial D decorated with gems, enclosing group of tonsured monks, some with lighted candles, one holding censer, standing beside bier draped with cross-inscribed cloth, upon which lays man, wearing hat, with arms crossed on abdomen.
In margins is foliate ornament. At left in lozenge is nimbed woman. Above lozenge is kneeling cherub and a skull; another skull below lozenge, both amid foliate ornament. In top margin is lozenge enclosing skull above small cross. The lozenge is flanked and held by two seated cherubs. In right margin is lozenge enclosing nimbed man; above and below the lozenge are pairs of cherubs and skulls amid foliate ornament. In lower margin is lozenge enclosing nimbed man, pointing with right hand toward book held in left hand. The lozenge is flanked and held by two standing cherubs.