Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1515
MS M.399 fol. 36v

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Scene, Liturgical: Celebration of Mass -- Within church, bleeding heart surrounded by four bleeding wounds (Five Wounds of Christ) appear amid rays of light above figures celebrating mass. Priest, tonsured, wearing chasuble, standing beside altar, raises joined hands. He turns toward deacon, tonsured, wearing dalmatic, back turned, reading from book on lectern before two acolytes holding candles. Second deacon holds thurible as acolyte, kneeling, fills it with incense.
Beyond, group of figures stands behind altar surmounted by retable and flanked by curtains. To right, figure, hooded, stands with joined hands raised. Church adorned with stained glass and statues, including Crucifixion with Virgin Mary and Evangelist John, in balcony, and statue of biship, mitered, in architectural niche on wall. Door of church is open, showing view of city.
Miniature framed by border in which angel, pulling back curtain, holds paschal candle, lit, decorated with flowers. To right, in lower border, man and woman both kneeling, pray below scene above. He holds book in both hands. She holds rosary in joined, raised hands.