Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 29r

See more information »

Miniature, upper left: 1) Christ: Presentation -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, supports nude Christ Child, cross-nimbed, standing on altar, with hands extended toward draped hands of Simeon, wearing high priest’s miter. In background, nimbed and veiled woman, possibly Prophetess Anna, holds dove with right hand beside Joseph, wearing hat, holding candle with right hand, another man in far background. Scene in temple room with window and tiled floor. Miniature, lower left: 2) Ark of Covenant -- The Ark as chest, with trappings and lock on front and rod through two rings on sides, on lid issues flowering branch flanked by bucket in which is aspergil (?) and by open book with pseudo-inscriptions. Scene in room with tiled floor. Miniature, upper right: 3) Moses: Instruction, Candelabrum -- Candelabrum, lighted, with seven arms set on base. Miniature, lower right: 4) Samuel: brought to Eli -- Samuel as child, stands on altar flanked by Eli, inscribed HELI [& ANA] (?), wearing hat and pouch and knife tied to belt, raises right forefinger extending hand to the Samuel, and by Hannah, inscribed ANNA, veiled, extending right hand to the Samuel. Scene in temple room with tiled floor. Miniatures for Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, in German, of Chapter 10 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.