Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 30r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Christ: among Doctors -- Youthful Christ, cross-nimbed, wearing cloak fastened with morse, raises right forefinger to indicate book held in left hand, seated on stepped pedestal surrounded by four men, three wearing hats or headgear, all partly kneeling and holding books or scroll, gesturing. In arched doorway, nimbed, veiled figure, possibly Virgin Mary, is visible. Scene in temple room with tiled floor. Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: Baptism -- Angel with draped hands, is beside nude Christ, cross-nimbed, with joined hands raised, feet submerged in River Jordan, beside John Baptist, nimbed, wearing garment of skins, raising right hand in blessing and lowering pitcher with left hand. Above the Christ’s head descends dove of Holy Ghost, cross-nimbed, issuing from cloudy arc of heaven inhabited by God, cross-nimbed, orant. Miniature, upper right: 3) Solomon: Hiram’s Laver -- Chalice rests on heads of nine oxen, some of the heads turned up toward three spigots issuing water from sides of chalice. Miniature, lower right: 4) Elisha: Healing of Naaman -- Naaman, nude, with joined hands raised, stands submerged in water to calves, flanked by two men, wearing hats, draping cloths over hands. Miniatures for Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, in German, of Chapters 11 (Christ: among Doctors) and 12 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.