Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1485-1490
MS M.231 fol. 130v

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Miniature:
Pentecost -- Before cloth of honor, Virgin Mary, nimbed, raising right hand, kneels at prie-dieu on which is open book. She looks toward apostle, nimbed, raising both hands, kneeling before the prie-dieu. In background, Peter, tonsured, with joined hands, stands with other apostles, one with raised hands, all amid descending gold rays. All are nimbed; some, only nimbus is visible.
Scene in room with architectural ornament, within arched frame of two trilobed arches decorated with architectural ornament.
Vignette, bottom right:
1) Christ: Baptism -- Nude Christ, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, covering genitals with left hand, stands in stream below hovering dove of Holy Ghost. On left bank Angel stands holding garment; on right bank John Baptist, nimbed, kneeling on one knee, pours water on His head from small basin.
Scene in landscape beneath blue sky with stars.
Vignettes, left top to bottom:
2) Apostles: going forth to preach -- In foreground, apostle, nimbed, walks carrying staff in right hand and book in left hand. In background, four other apostles, two carrying staff, walk amid landscape beneath blue sky with stars.
3) Apostle, Peter: preaching -- Peter, nimbed and tonsured, gesturing with both hands, stands in pulpit. Before the pulpit four women, two veiled, sit on ground, one leaning against the pulpit. Two men stand behind them, one wearing hat and gesturing with left hand, the other wearing hood. Dove of Holy Ghost hovers above them.
4) Apostle, Peter: baptizing -- Peter, nimbed and tonsured, holding book with right hand, stands pouring water from bowl held in left hand, over heads of two women with joined hands kneeling at front of kneeling group of five people. Dove of Holy Ghost flies overhead.