Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 24r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Angel: Fall -- Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, wearing cross-surmounted tiara over crown and vestment fastened by morse, sits on canopied throne, with right hand supporting cross-surmounted tripartite globe on knee and with right hand raising scepter, feet on platform, flanked by two flying angels, both raising swords in right hands, above three winged demons, with horns, a fourth horned demon, with clawed feet and face on abdomen, flames rising in foreground. Miniature, lower left: 2) Eve: Creation -- Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, wearing long robe, raises right hand in blessing and with left hand grasps left wrist of nude Eve issuing from side of Adam, nude, eyes closed, supporting head with left hand, reclining under tree in grassy garden. Miniature, upper right: 3) Eve: given to Adam by God -- Christ-Logos name inscribed DEUS, cross-nimbed, wearing vestment fastened with morse, grasps arms to join hands of Adam, name inscribed ADAM, and Eve, name inscribed EUA, both nude. Miniature, lower right: 4) Eve: tempted by Serpent -- Winged serpent, with head of woman (Lilith), bare-breasted, and coiled serpent-like tail, Inscribed SERPENS NEQUAM and inscribed on lower portion NEQ(UA)Q(UAM) MORIEMINI ET ERITIS SICUT DII (Genesis 3:4-5, variant), and above inscribed CUR P(RAE)CEPIT UOBIS DE(US) UT NO(N) (COM)MEDERITIS DE OM IN LIGNO (Genesis 3:1, variant), faces nude Eve, name inscribed EUA, holding apple with right hand, beside inscription NE FORTE MORIAMUR (Genesis 3:3, variant). Miniatures for beginning of Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts of the Latin text of Chapter 1 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.