Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 25r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Joachim: Annunciation -- Archangel Gabriel, name inscribed GABRIEL, before Joachim, name inscribed IOACHYM, wearing hat, knife and pouch fastened on belt at waist, both raise left hand in greeting; amid grassy ground. Miniature, lower left: 2) Astyages of Media: Dream -- Astyages, crowned, eyes closed, head on pillow reclines on draped bed, before his daughter Mandane, crowned, standing on and grasping grapevine with both hands. Scene in bedroom with tiled floor. Miniature, upper right: 3) Song of Solomon: Sealed Fountain -- In garden with two trees, water pours from spigot to rectangular wellhead and across grass inside crenellated walls with locked door in tower in foreground. Miniature, lower right: 4) Balaam: opposed by Angel -- Angel, name inscribed ANGELUS DOMINI, wearing garment fastened with morse, raises sword in right hand, before Balaam, astride ass, wearing hat, raising club in right hand, and holding reins with left hand. Above him is inscribed ORIET(UR) STELLA EX IACOB from Numbers 24:17. Miniatures for Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts of the Latin text of Chapter 3 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.