Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 27r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Song of Solomon: Tower of David -- Tower of David, inscribed TURRIS DAUID, of crenellated walls, is covered with heraldic shields; below is door with strapping and lock. Miniature, lower left: 2) Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Beneath rayed arc of heaven, bearing half-figure of Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, raising right hand to indicate cross-surmounted globe held in left hand, Archangel Gabriel, partly kneels, holding scepter with right hand and with left hand holding scroll inscribed AUE MARIA PLENA, beside vase filled with lilies and before Virgin Mary, nimbed, with Dove of Holy Ghost descending to her head, with arms crossed on breast, seated (?) at prie-dieu, on which is open book with pseudo-inscriptions. Scene is in room with tiled floor. Miniature, upper right: 3) Moses: Burning Bush -- Christ-Logos, as half-figure, cross-nimbed, raises right hand to indicate cross-surmounted globe in left hand, in tree, above pair of shoes beside Moses, horned, with joined hands raised, partly kneeling. Miniature, lower right: 4) Gideon: Fleece -- In cloud, half-figure of angel descends, extending hands to indicate scroll, inscribed DOMINUS TECUS VIRORUM FORTISSIME, above Gideon, wearing feathered helmet, with sword tied at waist, looking up. At left, fleece is spread on ground. Miniatures for Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts of the Latin text of Chapters 6 (Song of Solomon: Tower of David) and 7 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.