Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, probably Paris, ca. 1490
MS M.1080 fol. 25r

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Miniature:
Personifications of four virtues (mercy, justice, peace and reason) including: woman,veiled with wimple, next to scroll inscribed MISERICORDE; woman, veiled, wearing armor, holding sword with right hand and scales with left hand, next to scroll inscribed IVSTICE; woman, veiled, next to scroll inscribed PAIX; and woman, veiled with hat, next to scroll inscribed RAISON (Virtues reconciled).
Above, in cloud-edged arc of Heaven, God, wearing cross surmounted tiara, extends right hand toward scepter held by angel. He holds cross surmounted tri-partite globe with left hand. Two more angels are at right.
Lower margin:
Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Archangel Gabriel, holding scepter with right hand, indicates upward with left hand toward dove of Holy Ghost, hovering. At right, Virgin Mary, nimbed, raising right hand, kneeling at prie-dieu, looks over her right shoulder toward Gabriel.
Scene flanked by columns, one surmounted by statue, possibly holding spear.
Right margin:
Augustus: Prophecy of Sibyl -- Augustus, wearing imperial crown, raising right hand, kneels before Tiburtine Sibyl, wearing hennin, indicating upward with right hand. They stand below canopy surmounted by Virgin Mary and Christ Child. (Ara coeli)
Left margin:
Fantastic animal.