Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Netherlands, ca. 1520
MS M.74 fol. 171v

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Gregory the Great: Scene, celebrating Mass – Gregory the Great, as pope, tonsured, wearing decorated cope, with both hands raising wafer, flanked by two tonsured priests, one swinging censer, and to the right two tonsured cardinals each holding cross-staff, all kneeling before draped altar on which is open book on stand, chalice covered with corporal, and triple crowned papal tiara. Above the altar hovers vision of Christ of Sorrows, cross-nimbed, as half-figure standing in sarcophagus, wearing crown of thorns, bleeding from wounds in head, side, and hands, possibly indicating His wounds, surrounded by Instruments of Passion all in glowing orb, including tau-cross with titulus, crossed spear and reed, and ladder, and other Instruments encircling Him, including heads of tormentors, Veronica’s veil, lantern, pincers, ointment jar, and garments. Scene in church interior with tiled floor. Margins decorated with border of strewn flowers including pink and daisy and inhabited by moth. Miniature facing the beginning of Prayers to Gregory the Great.