Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
England, probably Oxford, ca. 1325-1330
MS M.700 fol. 37r

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Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, pearled crossed nimbus, wearing crown of thorns on inclined head and loin cloth, bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nails to cross, flanked by two thieves, blindfolded, wearing loin cloths, with arms bound behind arms of crosses. Stephaton, wearing pointed hat, extends with right hand sponge on reed toward His face and holds bucket in left hand. Above, sun and moon partly hidded by clouds.
Scene against gold stippled background within initial D with ornament of foliage; spandrels decorated with diapered ornament.
Margins decorated with rectilinear foliate extensions and sprigs of foliage.
In upper margin, veiled hybrid woman clasping hands and looking down toward the Crucifixion, forming part of foliate extension on which are two hybrid animals.
In right margin, hybrid man, wearing dunce hat with bell terminal, blowing curved horn, and heraldic escutcheon, unidentified (per pale counterchanged, gules a chief dancetty argent).
In lower margin, heraldic escutcheon of Ludlow (or, a lion rampant sable), flanked by dragon and hybrid animal (ox) with bat wings.
In left margin, heraldic escutcheon of L'Estrange (gules, two lions passant argent).