Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Rouen or Orléans, last quarter of 15th century
MS G.4 fol. 102v

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Legend, Dance of Death -- Death as skeleton with decaying flesh, raising arrow with right hand, holding other arrows with left hand is astride quadruped, riding toward woman, arrow in bleeding wound on breast, raising right hand, and man, wearing hat, with purse at waist, raising right hand.
Exterior scene with trees and building in background.
Initial D enclosing bird.
Margins with black background, decorated with border of floreate ornament including strawberry, inhabited by bird; butterfly; small monkey wearing collar kneeling with joined hands before monkey wearing hood, extending right paw, indicating small monkey with left paw, sitting on upended cask with handle; snail; hybrid monk wearing hood, possibly holding rosary.