Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Saint-Omer, between 1320 and 1329
MS M.754 fol. 17v

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Apostle: preaching -- Apostle, nimbed, standing, gesturing toward group of four men, two wearing caps, seated, all below cross-nimbed dove of Holy Ghost emerging from clouds.
Scene against gold diapered background, in decorated initial D with ascender of winged, headless hybrid animal, beneath architectural frame of cinquefoil arch with oculus in spandrel of crocketed gable with pinnacles, all on diapered panel.
Beginning of first versicle of Vespers of Long Hours of the Holy Spirit.
Margins decorated with curvilinear foliate stems, balls, and bottom bar of scrolling foliage.
Margin, left, inhabited by beardless man, possibly male donor, kneeling with joined hands raised in prayer; head of bearded man wearing cap, issuing from foliate stem; and hybrid animal.
Margin, lower, inhabited by crowned man pointing toward pair of monkeys wrestling, each mounted on monkey, and bird; below, monkey holding open book with pseudo-inscriptions (Burlesque, reading); hybrid man.
Margin, right, inhabited by female donor, wearing veiled headdress, with joined hands raised in prayer, kneeling on foliate stem; above, bird.