Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1520
MS M.307 fol. 133v

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Gregory the Great: Scene, celebrating Mass -- Gregory, nimbed and tonsured, wearing chasuable and alb, kneels, hands resting on draped altar on which are candlesticks, open book and chalice. He looks up toward Christ of Sorrows, rays as nimbus, with crown of thorns, wearing short loincloth, indicating wound in side with right hand, sitting on edge of sarcophagus. Two covered jars are next to Him. In foreground, next to altar, acolyte, tonsured, kneels swinging smoking censer. At other end of the altar are three clerics, one kneeling holding triple crowned tiara with infulae, and another holding double armed processional cross. In background are Instruments of Passion including Judas holding sack, other figures, and cock atop column, scourge and withes tied to column, cross and ladder, spear (?).
Margins decorated with border of flowers and plants including rose and strawberry, and inhabited by butterfly and hybrid with torso of man in shell, holding distaff and spindle.