Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Bible
Austria, perhaps Vienna, ca. 1435
MS M.230 fol. 23v

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New Testament:
Virgin Mary: Death -- Virgin Mary, veiled with wimple, reclines, head on pillow, hands crossed on abdomen, on draped bed. Christ, nimbed, raising right hand in blessing, stands next to the bed, holding with left hand personification of soul of Virgin Mary, nimbed, with joined hands. Peter stands next to Him holding aspergil with right hand and situla with left hand; apostle next to Peter raises censer with right hand. Of the other nine apostles, two, one wearing cap, sit in foreground reading, one stands at head of the bed holding candle, five stand looking on, one gestures and looks toward Virgin Mary.
Caption DIE HIMELFART MARIAE is above miniature.
Prophets:
At left, half-figure of Isaiah, wearing turban like headgear holding with both hands scroll with inscription cited as Isaiah 35; below half-figure of prophet with draped head, looking upward, holds blank scroll with both hands.
At right, half-figure of David, wearing turban-like headgear, gesturing with right hand, holding with left hand scroll with inscription cited as Psalm 43 (Vulg., Psalm 44); below, half-figure of prophet wearing hat, holding blank scroll with both hands.
Old Testament:
1) David: dancing before Ark -- Ark, as building, rests on two poles carried on shoulders of two men, wearing turban-like headgear, holding end of pole with each hand. Of the four men before the ark, two, including David, crowned, play harps, one wearing headgear plays viol (?), and the fourth gestures with left hand.
Description below miniature with citation for I Chronicles 15.
2) David: cherished by Abishag -- Abishag, crowned, is seated sideways on bridled ass before David, wearing hat with crown, indicating her with right hand, holding scepter with left hand, wearing scimitar at waist, standing in doorway. At left, next to the ass, are six women, only partially visible.
Description below miniature with citation for I Kings 1 (Vulg., III Kings 1).