Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Bible
Austria, perhaps Vienna, ca. 1435
MS M.230 fol. 4r

See more information »

New Testament:
Innocents: Massacre -- Herod, wearing headdress, hat and possibly crown, is seated on throne holding scepter with left hand. He looks left toward soldier, wearing helmet and armor, holding with right hand, right leg of nude infant upside down. In left hand of the soldier is sword on which nude infant is impaled. At right, second soldier, wearing helmet and armor, raises knife with right hand, holding with left hand right arm of nude infant; another nude infant is at his feet. Behind him, mother, veiled, clasps hands above her head.
Caption DER GRIMMIG TYRANN HERODES LASST UMB CHRISTI WILLEN UILL TAUSENT UNSCHULDIGER KHINDLIN ERBÄRMLICH WÜRGEN UND UMBRINGEN MATTH 2 is above miniature.
Prophets:
At left, half-figure of prophet, wearing hat, holding scroll with both hands; half-figure of prophet, crowned, holding with both hands, one draped, scroll decorated with skull and bone and inscribed FUI NON SUM ERIS NON ES (probably later addition).
At right, half-figure of Jeremiah wearing hat, holding scroll with inscription cited as Jeremiah 31 and from which hangs seal; half-figure of prophet looking at blank open book held with both hands, one draped.
Old Testament:
1) Jehoram, King of Judah: slaying Brothers -- Jehoram, crowned, is seated on throne, holding scepter with right hand and extends left hand toward executioner stabbing with sword throat of man with joined hands, kneeling. Soldier, wearing helmet and armor raising sword with right hand, holds head of crouching man with left hand.
Description below miniature with citation for II Chronicles 21:4.
2) Athaliah: Massacre of Royal Seed -- Athaliah, crowned, wearing hood (?), is seated on throne extending hands. Five youths kneel before her, three with joined hands. Executioner, raising scimitar with right hand, places left hand on head of one of the kneeling youths. At right, woman, veiled, stands holding infant with joined hands.
Description below miniature with citation for II Chronicles 22:10.