Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, possibly Lille, ca. 1445
M.304 fol. 20r

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Scene, Secular: Burial, Body prepared -- Nude body of man reclines on shroud, surrounded by ten mourners, wearing hoods. One of two men holding jars anoints the body with rod (?) held in right hand.
Margins decorated with border of foliate ornament inhabited by merman as soldier, holding sword with right hand and shield with left hand; mermaid holding mirror with right hand, touching hair with left hand, looking at reflection in the mirror; man climbing foliage; archer aiming arrow at bird above him.