Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Historien Bibel
Germany, between 1375 and 1400
MS M.268 fol. 33v

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Upper half: Virgin Mary: Death-- Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled with wimple, eyes closed, wrists crossed on abdomen, is recumbent on draped mattress, head on pillow. Behind the bed stands Christ, cross-nimbed, with right hand raised in blessing and with left hand supporting nimbed and crowned soul of Virgin Mary. Before the bed, among two nimbed apostles, one sitting, reading from open book with pseudo-inscriptions, the other kneeling, with right hand raising lid of censer. At left, among five nimbed apostles, three hold lit tapered candles and two, seated on bench, read from open books with pseudo-inscriptions. At right, among five nimbed apostles, one, possibly Evangelist John, raising right hand to cheek and with left hand holding lit tapered candle, beside another, possibly Apostle Peter, with right hand extending aspergil and with left hand holding situla, the others hold lit tapered candles or sit on bench reading from open books with pseudo-inscriptions. Lower half: Virgin Mary: Burial -- Decorated bier is supported by nimbed apostles, all surrounded by at least eight nimbed apostles, seven holding lit tapered candles. Beneath the bier are trampled three men, possibly cripples, wearing conical Jew’s hat. All are led by nimbed apostle, possibly Apostle Peter, raising bannered cross staff, toward triple cross-surmounted entrance of city gate, in which stands man, wearing conical Jew’s hat, holding palm.