Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, probably Besançon, ca. 1430
MS M.293 fol. 9r

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Virgin Mary: Death -- Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled with wimple, reclines with head on pillow, in draped bed, arms crossed. Two angels, nimbed, one with hands on shoulders of Mary, stand at head of the bed. Next to them are Peter, nimbed, wearing cope and stole crossed on breast, raising aspergil with right hand and holding situla with left hand and three other apostles, all nimbed, one with head draped, joined hands, and book on the bed before him. Sitting in foreground are four other apostles (?), all nimbed, two with heads draped, one wearing hood, one wearing hat, two holding open books on laps, one with joined hands, one clasping hands, with book on lap.
Above in arc of Heaven, two angels extend hands to feet of nude personification of soul, nimbed, held in left arm of bust of Christ, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing. They are flanked by busts of two angels, nimbed, with joined hands.
Margins decorated with border of foliate rinceaux, and foliate and floreate ornament.