Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Speculum humanae salvationis
England, Yorkshire?, ca. 1400
MS M.766 fol. 52v

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Left column:
Christ: Harrowing of Hell -- Four devils, one horned, two blowing horns are atop crenellated tower. Emerging from the tower is crowd of nimbed figures, most only nimbi visible. In foreground are three nude men, nimbed, and one nude woman, nimbed. The right arm of foremost man is grasped by right hand of Christ, crossed nimbus, showing wounds, carrying cross staff with left hand, His body partially draped.
Caption, SANCTI LIBERAT(UR) DE INFERNO, is inscribed above scene.
Right column:
Moses: Departure from Egypt -- Crowd of Israelites, men wearing hats, women, veiled, one possibly with wimple, many only tops of heads visible, emerge from tower. Two each carry staff, the foremost, raising left hand is probably Moses. Angel hovers in cloud above the Israelites.
Caption, FILII ISR(AE)L LIBERAUTUM DE EGYPTO, is inscribed above scene.
Text reference, EXOD[US] 14, is in upper margin.