Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 35r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Shamgar: slaying Philistines -- Shamgar, wearing hat and armor, raises scimitar in left hand and holds shield with right hand, trampling seven soldiers, wearing hats or helmets, two holding bannered spears, all with eyes closed. Miniature, lower left: 2) David: slaying Enemy -- David, wearing crown, supports shield slung over breast on left arm, raising scimitar with right hand, and tramples six soldiers and men, wearing hats or helmets, most with eyes closed. Miniature, upper right: 3) Christ: Betrayal and Arrest -- Judas embraces Christ, cross-nimbed, He raises his right and lowers his left hand to indicate Malchus, kneeling on ground beside lantern, with left hand to head. In background, group of four helmeted soldiers, holding spears look at each other beside Apostle Peter, scalloped nimbus, with left hand on hilt of sword, partly in sheath held by his right hand (Apostle, Peter: cutting off Ear of Malchus). Miniature, lower right: 4) Joab: killing Amasa -- Joab, wearing hat and pouch with empty sheath tied to belt, extends right hand to chin of Amasa, and with left hand holds hilt of sword behind the Amasa, possibly piercing him (not visible). Scene in rocky landscape with tree. Miniatures for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, in German, for Chapters 17 (Shamgar: slaying Philistines and David: slaying Enemy) and 18 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.