Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 29r

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Column miniature:
Crucifixion, One Cross, with Virgin Mary, Evangelist John, and Holy Women -- Christ, nimbed, wearing crown of thorns, with eyes closed and bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nails to tau-cross, surmounted by titulus inscribed INRI (only bottom portion visible).
At left, Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, with joined hands raised, stands in front of Evangelist John, nimbed, and holy woman, nimbed and veiled.
At right, Longinus of Jerusalem (?), wearing hat, with right forefinger raised and left hand on belt, stands in front of group of soldiers, wearing armor, one holding spear in right hand (only tops of heads of others visible), thirteen possibly holding spears.
Scene in landscape setting.
Upper vignette:
Maccabees Seven: exhorted by Salomona -- Salomona of Antioch, wearing headdress, with joined hands raised, kneels, surrounded five Maccabees, two with joined hands raised. Scene takes place in front of buildings of city.
Lower vignette:
Salomona of Antioch: Martyrdom -- One of Maccabees Seven, with joined hands raised, stands in front of man, wearing hat, left hand extended toward Salomona of Antioch, wearing headdress, joined hands raised, beside second man, wearing hat, with left hand extended.
Caption between vignettes reads, A DIEU DEMANDE RENT CO(N)STANCE LA MERE ET LES FILS TOUTES FOYS ELLE MOURUT ET EUT PUISSANCE DE NE TRA(N)SGRESSER POINT LE LOYS.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including daisies, roses, and columbines, and inhabited by hybrid animal, winged, with halberd.