Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Saint-Omer, between 1320 and 1329
MS M.754 fol. 33v

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Melchisedek: represented with Chalice --Melchisedek, wearing crown and priest’s vestments, holding round loaf (suggesting paten) in right hand and raising chalice or ewer in left hand above draped altar.
Scene against gold diapered background, within cinquefoil arch of gabled architectural frame with pinnacles, in initial D with ascender of headless hybrid animal, within diapered panel.
Beginning of first versicle of Lauds of Hours of the Holy Sacrament.
Margins decorated with foliate stems, balls, and bottom bar of scrolling foliage.
Margin, upper, inhabited by hybrid tonsured cleric wearing shawl, with tail of foliate stem.
Margin, left, inhabited by bird, butterfly, rabbit, and male musician playing harp.
Margin, lower, inhabited by couple of woman, wearing veiled headdress, and man, each seated, with hand on chessboard, beneath tree (Scene, Sports and Games, Chess), two dogs, one seated and the other running over stream, and rabbit in burrow.
Margin, right, inhabited by female donor (donee ?), wearing veiled headdress, with joined hands raised in prayer toward left, beside pet dog (?).