Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 31v

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Christ: Miracle of healing Leper -- Christ, cross-nimbed, raises right hand in blessing toward kneeling Leper, with joined hands raised, holding staff over left shoulder and with hat tied on back and with pouch slung over body. Scene on path in landscape with city in hilly background. Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: Miracle of raising Widow’s Son -- Christ, cross-nimbed, raises right hand in blessing toward two men, wearing hats, supporting on shoulders two poles and seat in which male youth, partly draped, gestures. In foreground, another Christ, cross-nimbed, raises right hand in blessing and gathers garment in left hand, leans down toward kneeling male youth, possibly tonsured, issuing from mouth horned devil, possibly representing Personification of Death. Miniature, upper right: 3) Christ: Miracle of stilling Storm -- On ship with cross-inscribed sail, four apostles with scallopped nimbi, accompany Christ, decorated cross-nimbus, eyes closed, resting head on bent left arm; below in water swim three fish and eel. Miniature, lower right: 4) Christ: Miracle of Gadarene Swine -- On shore, beside three swine, kneeling youthful male, issues nude devil from mouth, before Christ, cross-nimbed, raising right hand in blessing. In background, on cliff, sits shepherd, wearing hat over hood, raising right hand and holding pedum with left hand. Miniatures for Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, in German, of and extended Chapter 13 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.