Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Germany, possibly Bamberg, 1204-1219
MS M.739 fol. 10v

See more information »

Zone 1:
1) Abraham: blessed by Melchisedek -- Abraham, nimbed, wearing coat of mail, with spear upright on ground and shield, stands beside Melchisedek, nimbed, tonsured, wearing vestments, raising right hand blessing toward chalice in his left hand above draped altar on which is cross, beside tower.
Scene caption, inscribed HIE IST ABRAHA(M) VON DEN VIENDEN WID(ER) CHUMEN VN(DE) BITET MELCHISEDECH DAZ ER GOTE LOP SAGE DAZ ER DIE VIENDE ERSLUCH VN(DE) LOTH LEDIGETE.
2) Abraham: entertaining the Angels -- Abraham, nimbed, leans on sword, before three nimbed angels, the foremost raising both hands, and the right one with left hand raised, approaching them.
Scene caption, inscribed DIZ IST DA ABRAHAM DRI HERREN UND(ER) EINE(M) BORGE SACH CHOMEN.
Zone 2:
3) Abraham and Sarah: promised Seed -- Abraham, nimbed, kneels with hands raised, flanked by three nimbed angels extending hands, and by winged, cross-nimbed Christ-Logos. He extends His right hand toward them and with His left hand holds scroll inscribed from Genesis 18:10, DIN WIP SOL EIN KINT TRAGEN. To right, Sarah, wearing headdress, stands with right hand to head, at open portal of building.
Scene caption, inscribed DRI SACH ER CHOMEN. EINEN ANBET ER. VN(DE) BAT SI HEIM IN SIN HUS. VN(DE) GAB IN EIN VEIZ CALF.
Zone 3:
4) Abraham: entertaining the Angels -- One of three wingless, nimbed angels, raises food to mouth, the center one holds knife, and the right raises goblet, and Abraham, nimbed, grasps one of two bowls containing fish and fowl. All sit behind draped table. Buildings to right.
Scene caption, inscribed HIE SIZZET ABRAHA(M) VN(DE) DI DRI DIE ER GESEHEN VN(DE) ENTFANGEN HETE IN SIN HUS VN(DE) EZZEN.