Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

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

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Upper vignette:
Innocents: Massacre -- Herod the Great, crowned, sits in throne beneath canopy, with right hand extended toward soldier, wearing armor, extending sword in right hand toward mother, wearing headdress, kneeling and holding swaddled infant. Behind them are three soldiers, wearing armor (only tops of heads of all but one visible). Scene in room, within architectural frame.
Lower vignette:
Saul: Ahimelech slain -- Saul, wearing crown, stands beside man, wearing hat, and behind man, wearing hat, who holds sword in both hands, about to strike priest, blindfolded, kneeling with joined hands raised, beside pool of blood (?). Scene in landscape setting, within architectural frame.
Caption between vignettes reads, SAUL POR DAUID FIST OCCIRE LES PRESTRES ET PAREILLEMENT HERODE FIST METTRE A MARTIRE LES INNOCENS CRUELLEMENT.
Margins decorated with floreate border, including cornflowers and daisies, inhabited by moth and by fantastic animal, wearing collar, seated on cannon.