Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1475
MS M.1001 fol. 13r

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Miniature, divided into four compartments, contains following figures:
1) Evangelist John: on Patmos -- Evangelist John, nimbed, seated on Patmos, writes in book with pen held in right hand. Eagle, nimbed, wings spread, stands beside him.
2) Evangelist Matthew, nimbed, wearing hat, kneeling before bench on which is inscribed scroll, examines pen held in raised right hand. Angel, nimbed, kneeling at end of bench, holds inkwell in right hand.
3) Evangelist Luke, seated in chair decorated with fleur-de-lis at writing desk on which is inkwell, writes on scroll with pen held in right hand. Beside him is ox, nimbed, winged.
3) Evangelist Mark, seated at writing desk with lectern on which is scroll, examines pen held in raised right hand. Beside him is lion, nimbed, winged.
In lower margin, below text, is following scene:
Evangelist Mark: Martyrdom -- Two horses, one ridden by horseman with whip and the other led by man, drag Evangelist Mark, nude, by rope around his feet, his hands bound and covering genitals. To left, group of men, one gesturing, look on.