Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Lectionary
Italy, Padua, 1436
MS M.180 fol. 19r

See more information »

Innocents: Massacre -- One mother, head draped and bowed, holds hands to face; another raises arms; one, veiled, touches head of executioner stabbing with knife infant held by mother, veiled. Mother sits on ground, hands to head, bleeding infant on her lap; another holds swaddled infant, touching his head with hers; another, veiled, grasps hair of man holding swooning mother; another holds bleeding infant. One executioner beheads infant with knife, holding body by left arm with his left hand; another raises large knife with right hand, grasping right arm of infant with left hand. Bleeding bodies of infants are on ground.
In background, buildings, and crenellated wall; figures visible in windows of buildings in background, and in courtyard of buildings.
Beginning of gospel reading for feast of Holy Innocents, December 29.