Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

La vérité à la place des ombres
France, Paris, 1679
MS M.21 fol. 70r

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At the top a plaque, edged in gold and framed by acanthus ornament, bears the inscription, PROBET AUTEM SEIPSUM HOMO. Within a paneled space below there is an altar, with two panels showing the monograms HIS with a cross and MA, bearing a monstrance and two burning censers beneath hangings suspended from a gold canopy. Above, a medallion contains a pelican. Vases of flowers, including roses and daffodils, floriated ornament, and instruments of the Passion, including a lantern, sponge, sword, ladder, scourge, torch, spears, cross with crown of thorns, column, pincers, and hammer, fill the sides. There is a quatrain below on a plinth. The frame consists of burnished and dull gold bands.