Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Historien Bibel
Germany, between 1375 and 1400
MS M.268 fol. 32r

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Christ: Crucifixion – At left, Christ, cross-nimbed, eyes closed, head inclined, wearing long loin cloth, is affixed by three nails to cross, bleeding from wounds in hands, side and feet. He is flanked by Dysmas and Gestas, each with eyes closed, bleeding and bound to tau-cross. Above the Dysmas, bust of angel drawing out of his mouth nude soul, with joined hands raised. Above the Gestas, devil crouching on arm of the cross drawing out of his mouth nude soul, with both hands raised. He is flanked below by Virgin Mary, swooning, supported by one of three Holy Women, all veiled with wimples, and Evangelist John, all nimbed, and by group of four men or soldiers, including the Longinus the Soldier and possibly the Centurion, one holding shield, with sword tied to waist, the other raising spear. Christ: Deposition -- At right, Christ, cross-nimbed, eyes closed, head inclined, wearing long loin cloth, blood flowing from wounds in hands and feet, is affixed to tau-cross with two nails at left hand and feet, with His torso supported by Joseph of Arimathea, wearing hat, standing on ladder, and His detached right hand embraced by Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, beside Evangelist John, grasping His right shoulder, and Nicodemus, extracting nail from feet with pincers; bucket with nail on ground. Lower half: Christ: Entombment -- At left, Christ, nimbed, veiled with shroud, is lowered into sarcophagus by Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus, both wearing headgears. To left, three Holy Women, with hands clasped, accompany Virgin Mary, all nimbed and veiled, she leans over body of the Christ, her right hand to His cheek. To right, stands three men, two wearing headgear. In foreground, among two men, both crouch to lift lid of the sarcophagus. All before craggy mound topped with foliage. Christ: Resurrection -- At right, Christ, cross-nimbed, showing wounds in side, hands, and feet, raises right hand in blessing and with left hand holds cross-inscribed bannered cross-staff, stepping forward from sarcophagus surrounded by three sleeping soldiers, one holding spear and shield another holding halberd and shield, all wearing helmets.