Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

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

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Christ: Last Judgment -- Within mandorla, Christ, cross-nimbed, hands raised exposing wounds, is wearing mantle fastened with morse, seated on arc with feet on tripartite globe. He is flanked at left by Evangelist John and Virgin Mary, nimbed, she wears veil, both with joined hands raised, before cross with three nails, slung with crown of thorns (Instruments of Passion). He is flanked at left by Adam and Eve, nude, kneeling, with joined hands raised. Three graves are open in ground, out of which emerge nude souls, one tonsured mal, two nude females, twisted. Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: Parable, Ten Pounds -- Two men, kneeling, with joined hands raised, are before King, crowned, seated on bench on raised, stepped platform. At the King’s feet, another man reclines, his arms crossed at waist, possibly bound, his feet chained and in stocks, a collar around his neck attached to chain. Miniature, upper right: 3) Christ: Parable, Wise and Foolish Virgins -- Above, five wise virgins, holding burning lamps upright; below, five foolish virgins, hold overturned lamps; some virgins gesture. Miniature, lower right: 4) Daniel: reproving Belshazzar -- Daniel, name inscribed DANIEL, raising left hand, stands looking toward Belshazzar, name inscribed BALTHASAR, crowned, raising right hand, sitting on throne. In background, arm of God emerges from cloud, holding pen in hand next to inscription MANE TECHEL PHARES. Miniatures are proofs for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for Chapter 39 of the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.