Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Poème sur la Passion
France, Rouen, ca. 1530
MS M.147 fol. 25r

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Christ: Entombment -- Body of Christ, cross-nimbed with rays, eyes closed, head inclined, wearing short loin cloth, bleeding from wounds in head, hands, side and feet, is laying supine on funerary shroud, held by two men, including Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both wearing hats, lowering the shroud into open sarcophagus. In foreground, Mary Magdalen, veiled, wearing belted garment, kneels at side of the sarcophagus beside ointment jar, leaning forward possibly embracing Him. Behind the tomb, Virgin Mary, nimbed, wearing wimpled veil, with joined hands raised, and Evangelist John, nimbed, with joined hands raised, are flanked by two nimbed and veiled Holy Women, one with hands crossed on breast and one with joined hands raised. Scene before rock with opening, with city and landscape in background. Framed text block of 15 lines is suspended from tree branch over path with arbor and foliage in foreground. Trees and foliage forming arch over scene; miniature within architectural frame.