Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Bible
Austria, perhaps Vienna, ca. 1435
MS M.230 fol. 3r

See more information »

New Testament:
Christ: Flight into Egypt -- Virgin Mary, veiled with wimple, supporting swaddled Christ Child with left arm, is seated sideways on ass, holding reins with right hand. Joseph, wearing cap, walks at head of ass, holding reins with right hand and carrying on left shoulder, crutch hung with drapery and cask.
Background of hills, with tree and building; bird, probably a later addition, flying above them.
Caption DIE FLUCHT MARIAE UND IOSEPH IN EGIPTUM MATTH 2 is above miniature.
Prophets:
At left, half-figures of two prophets wearing headgear, one holding blank scroll with both hands, the other indicating with right hand blank open book held in left hand.
At right, half-figure of David, crowned, holding with both hands scroll with inscription cited as Psalm 120. Half-figure of Hosea holding scroll with inscription cited as Hosea 2.
Old Testament:
1) Jacob: sent to Padanaram -- Rebecca, veiled, eyes shut, raising draped left hand to face, standing in doorway of building, extends her right hand to right hand of Jacob, carrying draped stick over left shoulder, wearing flask on cord around neck.
Exterior scene with trees and hills in background.
Description below miniature with citation for Genesis 27.
2) David: let down from Window -- In window, half-figure of Michal (?) wearing headdress or hood, holds rope with both hands. At other end of the rope, David, crowned, holding rope with both hands, stands on stick tied at end of rope.
Description below miniature with citation for I Samuel 19 (Vulg., I Kings 19).