Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, between 1471 and 1485
MS M.815 fol. 125r

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Wheel of Fortune -- Job (?), wearing hat, with scrolls inscribed SUBITO PROBAS ILLUM and QUID EST HOMO Q[UIA] MAGNIFICAS EUM, stands beside corpse, wrapped in shroud, with scroll inscribed ECCE NUNC IN PULVERE DORMIA[M], and beside Wheel of Fortune, at top of which is seated crowned king, holding scepter, and at bottom of which is man, wearing drawers, grasping spokes of wheel. In background, young man, with scroll inscribed PARCE MICHI D[OMI]NE NICHIL ENI[M] SUNT DIES MEI, kneels with joined hands raised before personification of Death, as corpse, partially draped in mantle, holding spear to the young man's throat. Above, in arc of heaven emanating rays, is Christ, with rays as nimbus, with right hand raised in blessing and holding cross-surmounted globe in left hand. Scene in landscape with castle on distant hilltop.
Floreate margins, inhabited by bird and boar (emblem of Henry VII ?).