Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Breviary
Hungary, Budapest, 1481
MS G.7 fol. 218v

See more information »

Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, nimbed, wearing short loin cloth, bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nails to cross with titulus inscribed INRI. To His right is Dymas, bound to cross, with angel above him lifting nude personification of his soul. To Christ's left is Gestas, bound to cross, with devil holding his nude soul.
On ground below are nimbed Holy Woman, veiled, wiping her eyes with kerchief; Evangelist John and veiled Holy Woman, both nimbed, supporting Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, and swooning; Mary Magdalen, nimbed, embracing Christ's cross; Longinus the Soldier, seated astride horse, piercing side of Christ with spear; Longinus of Jerusalem, wearing hat, seated astride horse, with left hand raised and with scroll inscribed UERE FILIUS DEI ERAT ISTE; Stephaton, holding rod with sponge; and numerous other helmeted soldiers, armed with spears, halberds, and swords, and horsemen. In background are seven hills of Jerusalem, surmounted by buildings.
Floreate margins inhabited by birds and putti, including some wrestling and pulling each other's hair, and one drinking from cask.
Four medallions:
1) Christ: in Gethsemane -- Christ, nimbed, kneels with joined hands raised before chalice on top of rock. Behind Him are apostles John, James, and Peter, all nimbed and sleeping.
2) Christ: Deposition -- Nicodemus, standing on ladder, with both hands lowers body of Christ, partially wrapped in shroud, into arms of Joseph of Arimathea. Mary Magdalen holds Christ's feet. Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, with hands crossed on her breast, witnesses scene.
3) Christ: Entombment -- Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus lower into sarcophagus body of Christ, with crossed rays as nimbus, laying on shroud. Beside the sarcophagus stand Evangelist John, Virgin Mary, veiled, and Holy Woman, all nimbed.
4) Heraldry, Hungarian: Domonkos Kálmáncsehi -- Escutcheon with arms of Domonkos Kámáncsehi (or, a lion demi rampant gules, in base azure, a star of six points or), surmounted by a miter with infulae. Medallion supported by two putti and flanked by birds.