Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours
Belgium, Liège, ca. 1280s
MS M.183 fol. 38r

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Initial D:
Psalm 027 (Vulg., 026) -- Male figure with hands raised witnesses David, crowned, pointing with right hand to his eye and with left hand indicating head of Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, emerging behind him.
Figures within architectural setting of double trefoil arches, all within decorated initial D with marginal foliate extensions, partly formed by dragon.
In upper margin, rabbit is pursued by running dog and by hooded male hunter holding rod in left hand and blowing horn (hunting scene), all in the same foliate extension of the initial D; owl perches on foliate stem.
In lower margin, bar of spiraling foliage, formed partly by fantastic animal and enclosing human head, and cusped stems, on which is man heaving stone toward the owl in upper margin.