Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 40r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Adam and Eve: mourning for Abel -- Abel, nude, eyes partly open, head inclined, is flanked by Eve, veiled with wimple, and by Adam, bearded, carrying walking stick with left hand, both extending right hands to arms of the Abel beneath cloudy sky. Miniature, lower left: 2) Naomi: arriving in Bethlehem -- Naomi, veiled with wimple, head inclined, stands with joined hands raised flanked by two women, veiled, one wearing with wimple, with joined hands raised. Miniature, upper right: 3) Christ: Entombment -- Over open sarcophagus, either Joseph of Arimathea or Nicodemus holds, with draped hands, shoulders of Christ, cross-nimbed, eyes partly open, wearing short loin cloth. The other man holds, with draped hands, feet of Christ. Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled with wimple, extends hands to right arm of the Christ behind the sarcophagus, beside Evangelist John, nimbed, with joined hands raised, both accompanied by two Holy Women, nimbed, veiled, one with wimple. Miniature, lower right: 4) David: mourning for Abner -- David, crowned, with joined hands raised, is behind two men, one wearing pouch fastened to belt, carrying coffin, two poles resting on their shoulders. Miniatures for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for Chapters 26 (Adam and Eve: mourning for Abel and Naomi: arriving in Bethlehem) and 27 of the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.