Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours
Belgium, Liège, ca. 1280s
MS M.183 fol. 285v

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Initial A:
Theophilus the Penitent: Scene, Compact restored by Virgin Mary -- Beneath lamp, Theophilus, tonsured, kneels with joined hands raised before draped altar beside which stands Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, extending sealed compact (charter with seal) toward him.
Scene within initial A formed by dragon's body with human head, wearing cap, and decorated with foliate extensions, ball, and hybrid man, wearing pointed cap, armed with sword and buckler.
In lower left margin, within foliate extensions of the initial, forming three scrolling tendrils, one terminates with five animal heads, and two enclose as follows:
Theophilus the Penitent: Scene, Virgin Mary demanding Return of Compact -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, holds fallen horned devil by rope in her right hand and wrests with her left hand sealed compact (charter with seal) from the devil.
Two of three horned demons with switches beat horned devil.
Illustrations at beginning of Aves of the Virgin / Psalter of the Virgin