Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Breviary
France, ca. 1511
MS M. 8 fol. 118r

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Evangelist, John: Scene, on Patmos -- John, nimbed, is seated, right hand resting on open book on lap. He raises left hand shielding eyes and looks up toward angel, nimbed, arms crossed, and half-figure of God, nimbed and crowned, raising right hand and holding globe with left hand, in arc of Heaven. Half-figure of Evangelist symbol, eagle, is in foreground next to John. Scene on shore with rocky outcrop, hills in distance. Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including strawberry, daisy, grapevine, cornflower and campanula, and inhabited by hybrid man wearing cardinal’s hat, looking at open book held with two paws (Scene, Burlesque: Reading) and by hybrid wild man (?) playing two pipes (Scene, Burlesque: playing Musical Instrument). Text is first lesson in first nocturn for Matins on 2nd Sunday after Easter.