Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1450
MS M.190 fol. 47r

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Miniature:
Christ: bearing Cross -- Christ, decorated crossed nimbus and wearing crown of thorns, bears tau-cross on left shoulder. Soldier holds upper end of arm of the cross. Christ turns His head back toward Evangelist John, decorated nimbus, veiled Virgin Mary, decorated nimbus, and Simon of Cyrene, holding base of the cross. Behind the Virgin Mary and Evangelist John, two apostles and holy woman, decorated nimbi, are followed by group of soldiers processing out of city gate of Jerusalem, some soldiers holding spears.
To right of Christ, soldier with scabbard, back turned, pulls rope tied around Christ's waist. Another soldier, holding spear with banner, stands before Christ. Procession, lead by crowd of soldiers and Jews, continues up hill. Walled city of Jerusalem appears in background. Two figures look down below from behind wall. Above the city, God, cross-nimbed, holding globe, appears surrounded by six cherubim. Scene set in naturalistic landscape.
Margins:
Decorative borders of naturalistic foliate design of tendrils and fruit-bearing trees. Right border divided into three registers demarcated by swathes of grass.