Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 47r

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Virgin Mary: as Intercessor -- God, cross-nimbed, appearing in mandorla, raises three arrows in right hand above Dominic of Bologna and Francis of Assisi, one wearing hooded monk’s habit and one nimbed and tonsured, wearing habit holding book with right hand and with left hand leaning on staff, both before Virgin Mary, nimbed, with joined hands raised, kneeling before them. Miniature, lower left: 2) Abigail: going to David -- Helmeted soldier and man, partly visible, accompany David, wearing armor, helmet surmounted by crest inhabited by head and shield on right arm with left land holding spear, before Abigail, veiled with wimple, kneeling, her hands raised. Miniature, upper right: 3) David: with Woman of Tekoah -- Woman of Tekoah, veiled with wimple, gestures with hands toward David, crowned, seated on bench raising right hand toward her. Miniature, lower right: 4) David: Siege of Abelbethmaachah -- Woman, veiled with wimple, on city wall with buildings in background, above locked gate, holds head of Sheba by the hair. Below at left, Joab, wearing armor and helmet, holding bannered spear with right hand and sword with left hand. Miniatures are proofs for Bernhard Richel’s Spiegel Menschlicher Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for Chapter 38 of the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.