Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, ca. 1420
MS M.960 fol. 56r

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Christ: Flight into Egypt -- Joseph the Carpenter, nimbed, carrying draped stick over right shoulder and holding crutch with left hand walks behind bridled ass. Virgin Mary, nimbed, is seated sideways on the ass, looking back toward Joseph. She holds reins with left hand, and standing Christ Child, nimbed with both hands. He extends His hands toward object, possibly twig, in extended left hand of angel, nimbed, seated on hindquarters of the ass.
Exterior scene with fantastic trees and rocky outcrops.
Initial D decorated with floreate vine; bust of man raising hands or grasping vines.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including pinks and inhabited by butterfly and birds, including goldfinch. In lower margin, scroll inscribed with motto POUR SON UOULOIR. Fragments of the motto repeated throughout decoration of border.