Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Egmont breviary
Netherlands, Utrecht, ca. 1440
MS M.87 fol. 335v

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Miniature, column, left: Christ: Presentation -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, wearing mantle lined in ermine, with both hands supports nude Christ Child, cross-nimbed, with joined hands raised. She is accompanied by female attendant, holding lit candle (partly visible); all beside draped altar over which are draped hands of Simeon of Jerusalem, wearing ermine-trimmed hat and vestments fastened with morse, and beside which are three men, one wearing hat, with right hand raised and with left hand on dove on the altar, the foremost, possibly Joseph the Carpenter, extends dove with both hands, the third man holds lit candle. Scene within apse of chapel with vaulted ceiling, five arched windows, and tiled floor. Miniature is at beginning of First Vespers for Feast of Purification of the Virgin (02.02). Initial E enclosing half figure of angel, nimbed, with right hand raised to indicate self and with left hand also raised; against gold background at beginning of Chapter. Margins decorated on three sides with scrolling floreate and foliate decoration, including strawberry, inhabited by lion as bishop, wearing miter with infulae and collar, with tongue protruding (left).