Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 39r

See more information »

Upper vignette:
Innocents: Massacre -- Soldier, wearing armor, extends sword in right hand toward mother, wearing headdress, kneeling and holding swaddled infant. Behind them, Herod the Great, crowned, sits in throne beneath canopy, with right hand extended. In background at left is portal beneath which is group of soldiers, wearing armor (only tops of heads of all but one visible). Scene in room, within architectural frame.
Lower vignette:
Athaliah: Massacre of Royal Seed -- Athaliah, wearing crown and headdress, stands behind man, wearing hat, his right hand holding sword with which he transfixes neck of youth, on ground. Behind them are bodies on ground and Jehosheba, wearing headdress, escaping with swaddled infant Joash. Scene in landscape setting, within architectural frame.
Caption between vignettes reads, LA FELONNE ROYNE ATHALIE QUI E(N)FANS FIT MOURIR PAR CENS HERODE LE FEL SIGNIFIE QUI FIST MOURIR LES INNOCENS.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including violas, cornflowers, and daisies, inhabited by moth and by fantasic animal, wearing collar, seated on cannon.