Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours
Belgium, Liège, ca. 1280s
MS M.183 fol. 70r

See more information »

Initial D:
Psalm 053 (Vulg., 052).
Christ: Temptation, 1st -- Horned devil gestures toward Christ, cross-nimbed, seated on mound, with right hand raised; stones lie on ground between them.
Scene beneath double trefoil arches, within initial D decorated with marginal foliate extensions and balls.
In lower margin (bas-de-page) within scrolling foliage formed by tail of dragon:
Legend, Gesta Romanorum XLV -- Solomon, crowned, sits on bench with right hand raised, beside youngest son raising right hand and holding string of bow in left hand, beside two elder sons, one with hands raised, facing them, and the other with bow shooting arrow piercing shrouded corpse of father.