Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 53v

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Miniature, upper left: 1) John Baptist: I am not the Christ -- John Baptist, nimbed, wearing mantle of skins, raises right hand toward group of men, among them, the foremost two, tonsured, wearing vestments, and gesturing, are accompanied by two men wearing hats (only heads visible). Miniature, lower left: 2) Christ: Parable, Unjust Steward -- Rich man, wearing hat, gesturing, is before draped table on which are covered vessel, cups, plate, knife and objects, possibly loaves. He is accompanied by woman, wearing headdress and another man and woman, wearing headdress. In foreground, among two youthful males, including steward, one extends tray with covered vessel and one, wearing hat, holds cup with right hand and holds canteen with left hand. Miniature, upper right: 3) Christ: Parable, Lazarus and Dives -- Beside building with closed door, bearded Lazarus, wearing tattered tunic, reclining on mat, has wounds licked by two dogs at his right arm and left leg. Tree in distance. Miniature, lower right: 4) Abraham: representing Paradise -- Abraham, representing Paradise, raises right hand and with left hand supports youthful Lazarus, nude, with joined hands raised, seated on the Abraham’s lap, both enclosed within cloudy mandorla. Miniatures are proofs for Bernhart Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts, written in German, for Christ’s Parables and scenes between Chapters 42 and 43.