Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita Christi (Life of Christ)
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1440
MS M.649 fol. 4r

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Zone 1:
1) Christ: Miracle of raising Lazarus -- Lazarus, arms raised, partly shrouded, stands in grave looking up at Christ, cross nimbed, gesturing with right hand toward him and holding cross-surmounted globe in left hand. Behind the Christ are Mary and Martha, one nimbed, wearing wimpled veil, with her hands joined at her waist, and the other with rays as nimbus and veil. On ground beside grave is mound of dirt littered with bones. In background is small engraved, illegible, wooden plaque.
2) Elijah: raising Widow's Son -- Within wood and wattle house, beside bed, Elijah, name inscribed HELIAS on scroll, clasps widow's son. Outside, widow, veiled, with right hand on breast and left hand clutching skirt, stands beneath head of God, cross-nimbed, within rayed arc of Heaven.
Zone 2:
1) Christ: Entry into Jerusalem -- Crowd stands at gate of city of Jerusalem, and foremost man places cloth on ground before ass. Christ, cross nimbed, right hand raised, rides ass toward gate accompanied by three apostles, nimbed. Above Him, figure emerges from leaves on tree.
2) Judith: showing Head of Holofernes -- Soldiers look over crenellated walls of City of Bethulia at Judith, wearing headdress, name inscribed IUDITH on scroll, standing before closed gate of city displaying head of Holofernes with both hands; another woman stands behind her.