Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, 1480-1500
MS M.179 fol. 131v

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Upper register:
Legend, Three Living and Dead -- Three horsemen, two on rearing horses, two wearing hats, one raising both arms, the others raising one arm, are opposite three skeletal corpses, one holding sickle, one wearing shroud over one shoulder, raising left hand and touching right hand of closest horseman. Processional cross in stepped base (cemetery cross) is between the two groups.
Lower register:
Scene, Liturgical: Obsequies -- In center is bier draped with cross-inscribed pall, with candle at each corner and processional cross with hood or grave marker at far end. At left are three clerics wearing black hats, seated, two holding open books, all possibly singing. At right three mourners, wearing black hoods, with joined hands, are in pew. In background against wall with windows is altar draped with cross-inscribed frontal.
Miniatures within one architectural frame with fluted columns and wavy columns, both with foliate capitals. Putti hang on swags, one only partially visible.