Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1460
MS M.282 fol. 50v

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Christ: Nativity -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, with hands crossed on her breast, kneels before nude infant Christ Child, with crossed nimbus, emanating rays, laying on her mantle on ground. Joseph the Carpenter, with right hand raised and holding staff in left hand, kneels on one knee to right. Rays emanate from top of arch to the Christ Child. In background is bed in shed, ass, ox in stone building, wattle fence, and distant city.
Margins with floreate and scroll ornament, inhabited in left margin by monkey (?), wearing hat, seated on stool and holding club in right hand; and in lower margin by seated fantastic animal, resembling squirrel, holding pitcher in left hand and drinking from glass held in right hand.