Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Rouen, ca. 1420-1425
MS M.105 fol. 174r

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Scene, Liturgical: Burial -- Three tonsured priests, wearing vestments, stand behind forth tonsured priest, wearing cope and fringed stole, holding open book with both hands, beside open grave. Two men shovel dirt with metal-edged wooden spades onto body, sewn in shroud, in the grave. Beside the grave are cemetery cross and four hooded mourners.
Above, angel, nimbed, armed with cross-staff in right hand, holding both hands of nude personification of soul in left hand, struggles with winged devil, holding right foot of the soul in left hand and hook in right hand (Death, Scene: Struggle for Soul).
Scene in walled cemetery with wooden door in gate, with bones (?) on ground and with two other graves, one marked with grave marker decorated with crucifix. Rays emanate from top of arch of miniature.
Margins with foliate and ivy-rinceaux ornament.