Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, possibly the Loire River Valley, ca. 1460
MS M.1067 fol. 4r

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Miniature:
Evangelist Mark, nimbed, seated on draped bench, rests left hand holding scraper on desk and with right hand writes with quill on scroll draped across the desk. Inkpot is above the scroll, and pencase hangs over front edge of the desk. Evangelist symbol, winged lion, sits at right.
Scene in room with vaulted ceiling, door, traceried window, and cupboard with door, in which are covered vessels, footed cup, and two books.
Medallions:
1) Evangelist, Mark: Scene, Mark before Peter -- Mark, nimbed, kneeling with joined hands before Peter, nimbed, raising right in blessing. Scene in building with vaulted ceiling and windows.
2) Evangelist, Mark: Martyrdom -- Evangelist Mark, with joined hands, reclines on ground behind horse. Man, wearing hat, stands next to the horse, touching its hindquarters with rod held in his right hand. Group of eight men, five wearing hats, one gesturing, look on.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including dianthus and inhabited by monkey; man wearing hat, and carrying covered footed cup; and woman, wearing headdress, carrying vase with right arm, and covered vessel with handle in left hand.