Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Historien Bibel
Germany, between 1375 and 1400
MS M.268 fol. 25v

See more information »

Upper half: Innocents: Massacre commanded and Innocents: Massacre -- At left, Herod the Great, crowned, is seated on throne, with left hand holding scepter and with right forefinger raised, looking toward one of two helmeted soldiers, wearing armor, with left hand grasping wrist of infant and with right hand plunging sword into its abdomen, the other with left hand grabbing right leg of infant embraced in arms of veiled mother. In foreground, one of two nude infants, recumbent on lap of seated mother, veiled, her hands clasped. From chapter 2 of Matthew. Christ: Flight into Egypt, Rest -- At right, Christ Child, cross-nimbed, nude, seated on shore, with left hand lowered toward stream issuing into foreground. At left, among six figures, including Virgin Mary, veiled and at least two other veiled women, and at right, Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, kneeling with joined hands raised beside bridled ass drinking from the stream. From Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. Lower half: Christ: Flight into Egypt, Rest -- At left, Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, with right hand holding reins of bridled ass, beside Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled with wimple, supporting in her arms swaddled Christ Child, all accompanied by group of four people, including veiled female attendant, before heads of five devils in trees or foliage (taming dragons). From Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew. Christ: Return from Egypt -- At right, Virgin Mary, veiled, mounted sideways on bridled ass, supporting swaddled Christ Child, both following Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, with left hand raised, all flanked on either side by groups of men, at least one holding stick on right shoulder, both groups in arched doorways and enclosed by crenellated city buildings of Nazareth. From chapter 2 of Matthew.