Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 38v

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Dysmas: Scene, Crucifixion -- Flying angel extends hand to nude soul, issuing from body of Dysmas, left arm bound to arm of tau-cross, with his right arm bound behind him and his right foot bound to foot of cross. He is flanked by two executioners, one lowers club and one, wearing hat, extends right hand to loin cloth of Dysmas, and with left hand raises club. Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, cross-nimbed, eyes closed, head inclined, wearing short loin cloth, is affixed with three nails to cross, flanked below by Virgin Mary veiled with wimple, raising left hand to head, and Evangelist John, with joined hands raised, both nimbed. Miniature, upper right: 3) Gestas: Scene, Crucifixion -- Flying angel extends hand to nude soul, issuing from body of Dysmas, left arm bound to arm of tau-cross, with his right arm bound behind him and his right foot bound to foot of cross. He is flanked by two executioners, one lowers club and one, wearing hat, extends right hand to loin cloth of Gestas, and with left hand raises club. Miniature, lower right: 4) Nebuchadnezzar: Dream II -- A pelican in her piety, and birds including one holding worm in its beak for chicks in nest, and possibly parrot; all in branches of a grapevine. Below the branches, angel as half-figure with joined hands raised, and dog beside man, wearing hat, strikes the tree with axe; all behind Nebuchadnezzar, crowned, reclining on a bed. Miniatures for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for Chapter 24 of the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.