Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1440
MS W.3 fol. 73v

See more information »

Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, crossed nimbus, bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nails to tau cross. Above the cross is cloud-edged arc of Heaven. At left, Longinus, wearing hat, holds with right hand, spear piercing side of Christ. With his left hand, Longinus indicates blood on his left eye. In front of Longinus, Evangelist John, nimbed, holds with his left hand, left arm of Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, either sitting or swooning. At right, are back-turned soldier wearing knotted headdress, holding halberd with right hand, with sheathed scimitar at his right side on cord over his left shoulder; man wearing hat, indicating Christ with right hand next to scroll bearing partially legible inscription VERE FILIUS DEI [...], probably Longinus of Jerusalem; and man wearing hat holding spear, wearing knotted sash at waist. Skull is in foreground.
Scene on grass with rock in foreground; diaper background.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament inhabited by bird.