Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, possibly the Loire River Valley, ca. 1460
MS M.1067 fol. 6r

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Miniature:
Sebastian of Rome: Scene, Torture -- At right, Sebastian, wearing short loincloth, his body pierced by four arrows, stands with back to tree, his arms behind him. At left, man, wearing hat, indicating Sebastian with right hand stands next to Diocletian wearing imperial crown, holding fleur de lis scepter with right hand and indicating Sebastian with left hand, looks at the man. Seven (?) other men (some only partially visible), four (?) wearing hats, stand behind Diocletian. Of two archers, one wears quiver and the other wearing hat, looks away; both aim arrows toward Sebastian.
Scene in landscape with tree, mountains, and with buildings in distance
Medallions:
1) Sebastian of Rome: Scene, reproaching Diocletion (?) -- Diocletian, crowned, holding scepter with left hand, indicates with right hand, Sebastian , right hand raised, gesturing with left hand. Three men, two wearing hats, stand behind Diocletian.
2) Sebastian of Rome: Scene, Arrows removed by Irene of Rome -- Sebastian, wearing short loincloth, his body pierced with 11 arrows, raising right hand, walks toward Irene, veiled, holding his left arm with her left hand, possibly holding arrow with right hand. Doorway of building is behind her; roofs of buildings visible behind wall in background.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including cornflower, dianthus and rose, and inhabited by man, holding stick with left hand (?) and grasping flower stem with right hand, emerging from snail shell; dragon; fly, monkey astride wolf.