Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Netherlands, ca. 1520
MS M.74 fol. 45v

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Christ: Nativity -- Virgin Mary, nimbus as rays, kneeling with joined hands raised, before nude Christ Child, emitting rays, laying supine on cloth (or in mandorla?) on ground, surrounded by four kneeling angels, two with joined hands raised and one orant, bust of ox and head of braying ass behind them, all before ruined shed with gate into which enters Joseph the Carpenter, holding lantern. On hill background, two hooded shepherds, one holding pedum, raises hand toward sky, both looking up toward angel descending in rays from arc of heaven (Shepherds: Annunciation); flock of four sheep. Margins decorated with borders of strewn flowers, including thistle, rose, and columbine, and inhabited by fly and moth, and in lower left Samson, wearing hat with billowing kerchief, astride lion and with both hands prying open its jaws (Samson: slaying Lion). Miniature facing the beginning of Prime in Hours of the Virgin.