Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Historien Bibel
Germany, between 1375 and 1400
MS M.268 fol. 24r

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Upper half: Virgin Mary: Infancy, Seven Steps-- At left, among three female attendants (one with only head visible), some wearing headgears, one holding tapered candle, all accompanying Anna, veiled with wimple, with left hand holding candle, ascending steps behind youthful Virgin Mary, crowned, extending left hand to extended right hand of High Priest, wearing miter, standing behind altar beneath arches. From the Apocrypha, Protevangelium of James 06. Joseph the Carpenter: chosen as Husband -- At right, group of eleven men (most with only heads visible), some wearing headgears and purses tied to waists, holding eleven rods, all accompanying Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, raising rod surmounted by dove, before altar on stepped base and beneath arches. Lower half: Virgin Mary: Espousal -- At left, High Priest, dressed in a bishop’s miter and vestments, joins the right hands of Virgin Mary, and Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, both flanked by groups of men and women, wearing various headgears and gesturing. From the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- At right, Archangel Gabriel, nimbed, partly kneeling, with right forefinger raised indicating Dove of Holy Ghost descending to nimbus of Virgin Mary, wearing fillet, with joined hands raised, seated before bookstand on which is open book. From chapter 1 of Luke.