Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 50r

See more information »

Miniature, upper left: 1) Christ: Parable, Prodigal Son (Luke 15:20) -- Before entrance to crenellated building, man, wearing hat and pouch and scimitar tied to belt, extends his right hand to extended right hand of youthful son, wearing hat, bare feet, with sack slung over shoulder, accompanied by man wearing hat, with raised right hand. Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: Parable, Prodigal Son (Luke 15:22-23) -- Bearded man, gestures to son, accompanied by veiled woman and youthful man, all behind draped table laden with covered vessel, loaves, cups and platter of meat. In foreground walks youthful male, wearing cap, holding covered vessel on tray (feasting). Miniature, upper right: 3) Christ: Last Judgment, Fifteen Signs (First Sign) -- Beneath cloud, rocky landscape of three trees is uneven between pools of water, in distance is ship and city. Miniature, lower right: 4) Christ: Last Judgment, Fifteen Signs (Second Sign) -- Beneath cloud, rocky landscape of trees is uneven with low water, in distance is ship. Miniatures are proofs for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for The Parable of the Prodigal Son and the First and Second Signs of the Last Judgment.