Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter
England, Oxford, between 1212 and 1220
MS M.43 fol. 20r

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1) Innocents: Massacre -- Dark-faced soldier in hauberk, wearing helmet, with sword impales body of nude infant above him. He stands beside nursing mother, showing breasts, with severed head of infant in her arms, seated on ground. Dark-faced man, in tunic, holds sword in right hand, points to the soldier with his left hand, and stands beside two decapitated infants. He turns his head toward Herod, crowned, dark-faced, raising his right forefinger at the man. He sits on cushioned bench, with devil perched on his shoulder. Scene in architectural setting of triple arcade.
2) Christ: Baptism -- John Baptist, wearing mantle of skins, holds vessel in draped left hand and raises right hand toward shoulder of Christ, cross-nimbed, with His right hand raised in blessing. He stands nude in Jordan river in which are fishes and eel. To right, nimbed angel holds garment. Scene in architectural setting of triple arcade.
Scenes within decorated frames.