Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 44v

See more information »

Miniature, upper left: 1) Jacob: Dream -- Jacob, wearing hat, resting head on right hand, leans on mound. Behind him, among three angels, the upper most angel emerging from cloudy arc of Heaven, rayed, supports ladder which is mounted by angel and supported on ground by third angel, partly kneeling. Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: Parable, Good Shepherd -- Half-figures of three angels, with joined hands raises, emerge from cloudy arc of Heaven facing Christ, crossed nimbus, sheep hangs on His shoulders, He holds front legs of the sheep with His hands; all beneath cloud. Miniature, upper right: 3) Elijah: Ascension -- Half-figure of Elisha, hands extended to garment lowered by right hand of Elijah, who is seated in wagon, pulled by horse (only backside visible), ascending to cloud. Scene amid rocky cliffs with tree. Miniature, lower right: 4) Pentecost -- Emerging from cloudy arc of Heaven, nimbed dove of Holy Ghost, descends to heads of twelve nimbed Apostles, including Apostle James raising left hand and with right hand holding open book, and Apostle Peter, holding open book, both flanking Virgin Mary, veiled, reading from open book with pseudo-inscriptions, all with flames issuing from nimbi, behind crenellated wall with arched door and lock. Miniatures are proofs for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for Chapters 33 and 34 (Pentecost) of the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.