Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 37r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) David: cursed by Shimei -- Abishai, holds sword with right hand beside Shimei, both wearing hats, the Shimei raises left hand to one of three branches issuing from David’s crowned head, he raises right hand toward them. Scene in landscape. Miniature, lower left: 2) David: Messengers to Hanun -- Hanun, wearing crown over hat, is seated on bench, with right hand holding knife, cutting beard of messenger, wearing hat, gesturing, he is grasped from behind by male attendant, wearing hat. Scene in room with wooden ceiling and tiled floor. Miniature, upper right: 3) Pilate: washing Hands -- Pilate, wearing hat, lowers hands to bowl of water held with right hand of male attendant, wearing hat, his right hand pouring pitcher. At right, Christ, cross-nimbed, wrists bound, is flanked by two men, wearing hats (only heads visible). Miniature, lower right: 4) Christ: bearing Cross -- Christ, cross-nimbed, carries cross on left shoulder, partly kneeling, and led by rope tied around waist, the rope held by man, wearing hat, among another two men, wearing hats, one holds bannered spear, another gestures toward Evangelist John and Virgin Mary, wearing wimpled veil, with joined hands raised, both with scallopped nimbi. Miniatures for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, in German, for Chapters 21 (David: cursed by Shimei and David: Messengers to Hanun) and 22 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.