Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter
England, Oxford, between 1212 and 1220
MS M.43 fol. 24v

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1) Thomas ³l Becket: murdered before High Altar -- One of four soldiers, in mail, armed with swords, strikes with sword tonsured head of Thomas with joined hands raised, partly kneeling before draped altar. Behind, Grim the Chaplain, tonsured, holds processional cross in right hand and raises left hand.
2) Edmund of England: Scene, Martyrdom -- Edmund, crowned, in loin cloth, stands with wrists bound to column, flanked by four executioners with bows shooting arrows at him.
3) Denis of Paris: Beheading, and Denis of Paris: carrying Head -- Hand of God emerges from cloudy arc of heaven, blessing Denis of Paris carrying his head. He descends toward red portals of building from mount where, again represented, he kneels holding his head, beside executioner holding sword in right hand and raising left forefinger.
4) Albanus of Verulam: Scene, Martyrdom -- Man gestures toward executioner seizing hair of Albanus and with sword beheading him. Albanus partly kneels, with joined hands raised.
Scenes within architectural settings.