Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 3v

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Left margin:
1) In upper vignette, Apostle Barnabas, nimbed, holding spear in right hand and open book with pseudo inscription in left hand, stands in landscape setting. Feast celebrated June 11.
2) John Baptist: Birth -- In center vignette, Elizabeth, nimbed, veiled, reclines in bed beneath canopy. Behind her, midwife, wearing hat, stands holding infant John Baptist, nimbed, in swaddling clothes. In foreground, Zacharias sits, writing on tablet (?) in his lap. Scene in room with tile floor. Feast of Nativity of John Baptist celebrated June 24.
3) In lower vignette, Apostle Peter, nimbed, holding key in right hand, faces Apostle Paul, nimbed, holding sword in left hand and raising right forefinger. Figures in landscape setting. Feast of Peter and Paul celebrated June 29.
Right margin:
Within column of architectural setting, tonsured male, possibly Vitus of Sicily, nimbed, wearing cross inscribed clerical vestments, stands holding palm in right hand and indicating calendar entry for feast of St. Vitus with left hand. Feast celebrated June 15.
Lower margin:
1) Month, Occupation: June -- Man, wearing hat, mows with scythe in landscape setting.
2) Zodiac Sign: Cancer -- Crab in landscape setting.
Miniatures within architectural frame.