Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Vita Christi (Life of Christ)
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1440
MS M.649 fol. 1r

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Zone 1:
1) Christ: Nativity -- Within stable of wattle, Virgin Mary, nimbed, semi-reclining on bed, holds Christ Child, cross nimbed and swaddled. Midwife stands outside of wall, extending arms, draped, into stable at side of bed. Joseph the Carpenter stands near foot of bed, leaning with both hands on staff.
2) At upper left, Virgin Mary, nimbed and crowned, her left arm raised, is seated amid rays, holding Christ Child, cross-nimbed, nude, on her lap. Her feet rest on crescent moon with face, above an arc of stars. Below scroll inscribed SYBILLA, Tiburtine Sibyl, crowned, hands joined and raised, kneels on ground before wagon and looks up.
Zone 2:
1) Shepherds: Annunciation and Shepherds: Adoration -- At upper left, in rayed arc of Heaven, are angels, foremost holding scroll inscribed GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO. Below, Christ Child, cross nimbed and swaddled, lies in manger, behind which are ox and ass. Next to manger, surrounded by sheep and flanked by two small trees, are four shepherds, two kneeling, three holding spears, one holding staff, all looking up at angels. At upper right head, possibly of angel, appears in arc of Heaven.
2) David: chosen by Samuel (?) -- Two men, beside scrolls inscribed HELY and YESSE, one wearing soft pointed hat and the other with small sack at waist, stand before group of seven men, the smallest below scroll inscribed DAUIT, his right hand extended.