Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 43r

See more information »

Miniature, upper left: 1) Jonah: cast up -- Jonah, nude, extends hands toward rocky cliff in distance. He emerges from mouth of fantastical fish, baring teeth, in water. Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: teaching, Cornerstone -- One man and one woman, possibly wearing snood, stand on roof of building, both hold stone, over roof of tower, connected to other building, both with arched windows and doors. Miniature, upper right: 3) Holy Women: at Sepulcher -- Three nimbed and veiled Holy Women (one with only nimbus visible), including Mary Magdalen, the foremost two hold vessels in hands, before open sarcophagus, over the side is draped shroud and out of which emerges three-quarter figure of angel, extending right hand. Miniature, lower right: 4) Christ: noli me tangere -- Mary Magdalen, nimbed, partly crouches, lowering hands to cross-staff with banner held by right hand of Christ, cross-nimbed, wearing mantle, bared breast, with left hand holding spade. Scene in garden enclosed by wattle fence with two trees. Miniatures are proofs for Bernhard Richel’s Spiegel Menschlicher Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for an extended Chapter 32 of the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.