Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1485-1490
MS M.231 fol. 103r

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1) David: playing before Saul -- David, seated on bench, plays harp before Saul, crowned, wearing vair lined robe, seated, indicating David with raised right hand.
2) David: communicating with God -- Half figure of God, rays as crossed nimbus, appears in window, emitting rays, above altar. David, crowned, with joined hands, kneels before the altar on which is panel with figure. In background stands harp partially in case.
Vignettes (lower margin, in narrative sequence):
3) David: sending Uriah to Joab -- David, crowned, wearing vair lined robe, seated, hands object to Uriah, extending right hand, holding spear with left hand, kneeling on left knee.
4) Uriah the Hittite: Death -- Uriah, wearing gold armor, riding bridled white horse, stabs mounted soldier with lance. Another mounted soldier, stabs Uriah in head with sword, and a third, behind Uriah raises sword with right hand. In foreground are headless, bleeding body, bleeding soldier, and bleeding severed head. In background is army of soldiers, some mounted, some holding lances or bannered lances.