Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, ca. 1440
MS M.157 fol. 125v

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Christ: Last Judgment -- Christ, cross-nimbed, showing wounds, raising right hand in blessing, is seated on arc, with feet upon tripartite globe, above male and female figures, nude, rising from graves. Christ is surrounded by four half-figures of angels, nimbed, playing trumpets. Below are Virgin Mary, nimbed, kneeling with hands crossed, and John Baptist, nimbed, wearing garment of skins, kneeling with joined hands raised.
Scene takes place in front of starry sky.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including strawberries and daisies, inhabited by birds, moth, and peacocks. In four corners are angels holding Instruments of Passion. In upper left corner, angel holds cross; in upper right corner, angel holds column; in lower right corner, angel holds sponge and spear; and in lower left corner, angel holds crown of thorns in draped left hand.