Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1440
MS W.3 fol. 77v

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Christ: Deposition -- Christ, crossed nimbus, wearing diaphanous loincloth is being removed from cross with titulus INRI. At left, man, probably Joseph of Arimathea, standing on table or platform, holds sagging body of Christ with draped hands. Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, holding book (?) in draped left hand, grasps with right hand, and kisses, right hand of Christ. Evangelist John stands behind her looking up at Christ. At right, on ladder, man, wearing cap, reaching with both arms around arm of cross, holds left arm of Christ. On ground, third man, probably Nicodemus, kneeling on one knee removes, with pincers, third and last nail from feet of Christ. The other two nails are in place in the arms of the cross.
Scene on grass with rock in foreground, against red background decorated with gold vine scroll.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament inhabited by peacock.