Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Breviary
France, ca. 1511
MS M. 8 fol. 140v

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Christ: Communion -- Christ, crossed nimbus, with right hand, extends wafer (host) across draped table to Peter, nimbed, kneeling, joined hands on the table. Christ holds chalice with left hand. Thirteen other apostles, nimbed, kneel around the table, one with joined hands, several back-turned. Scene in room open to landscape. In lower margin, escutcheon decorated with heraldry of Guy de Castelnau-Bretenoux (quarterly 1 and 4 gules a castle with 3 towers; 2 and 3 azure a lion argent) surmounted by a black papal prothonotary’s hat from which hang tassels. Crozier behind the escutcheon. All flanked by curtains. Initial A decorated with campanula and blue flower. All enclosed by camaieu architectural frame of two decorated columns supporting lintel. In niches at top of the columns, statues of angels, arms crossed, looking toward scene. Text is invitatory for Matins on feast of Corpus Christi.