Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Tours, ca. 1495
M.388 fol. 51v

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Christ: Deposition -- Joseph of Arimathea, wearing hat, standing on ladder behind tau cross, reaches over, holding with both hands body of Christ bleeding from wounds, nails removed from His hands. Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, standing at left, holds her head to His, touching His right hand. Nicodemus removes nail from His feet with pincers. Holy Woman, nimbed and veiled, draped hands raised, sits at Mary's feet; another woman is behind Mary. At left and right are crosses of two thieves, wearing short loincloths, affixed to the crosses with three nails.
In foreground is cave-like tomb, in which Joseph of Arimathea (?) lifts lid from sarcophagus. Holy Woman, nimbed and veiled, with hands clasped, stands at mouth of the tomb.
Scene in landscape with city in background.