Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, possibly Angers, ca. 1450
MS M.1020 fol. 98r

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Scene, Liturgical: Burial -- Body, encased in cross inscribed shroud, is lowered into grave by two men, one holding shoulders, standing beside the grave and the other, wearing hat, grasping legs of corpse, standing in the grave. Beside the grave, priest, tonsured, wearing cope, raises aspergil with right hand and holds situla with left hand. Behind him are two mourners, cleric wearing almuce, and another tonsured cleric. In background at left, angel, nimbed, raising cross staff with right, holds joined, raised hands of soul. Devil, tongue protruding (?), horned, winged, with claw feet, grasps, or is stabbed by, the cross staff (Death, Scene: Struggle for Soul). Wall and building in background. Rays descend from gold arc of Heaven.
Scene with landscape of trees and rocky outcrop.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament.