Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, perhaps Bruges, ca. 1420
MS M.76 fol. 70v

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Christ: of Sorrows -- Half figure of Christ, rays as nimbus, wearing crown of thorns, arms crossed, bleeding from wounds, appears in sarcophagus, next to lid, resting across top the sarcophagus. Behind Him is cross with titulus INRI. Garment is draped over the cross arm at left and at right, cock sits on the cross arm. The cross is flanked above by two heads, one of a man wearing red hat, and by head of Peter, near the cock. Below the cross arms, at right, are four heads including that of Christ, crossed nimbus; Virgin Mary or Mary Magdalen, nimbed and veiled; Caiphas, wearing miter; and Pilate, crowned.
Christ is surrounded by instruments of Passion, including ladder, column entwined with rope, hammer, head of torturer spitting, sword, lance, torch, sponge on reed, lantern, three dice, pile of coins, three nails, and pincers. Also in foreground at left are three ointment jars (?).
Margins decorated with border of gold rinceaux inhabited by hybrid man, wearing hat, holding scimitar with left hand; another hybrid man, wearing feather headdress and holding jug (?) to mouth; and fantastic animal. Gold geometric ornament on each corner of miniature.
Beginning of prayers on the Passion.