Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1425-1430
MS M.453 fol. 133v

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Scene, Liturgical: Burial -- Two men, one kneeling on edge of grave, the other standing in grave, lower shrouded corpse. Next to grave is man, representing guild, wearing robe decorated with image of female saint, nimbed, hands joined; pall is draped over his right arm, and he holds bell in left hand. At left is acolyte holding processional cross with left hand and situla with right hand; priest, tonsured, wearing stole, holds aspergil in right hand above situla, and open book in left hand. Behind them is group of men, possibly acolytes or clerics. At right is group of mourners, either male or female, all wearing black hoods and robes, two with heads bowed. In foreground is empty wooden coffin and shovel. Scene is in graveyard with grave markers and with charnel house in background. In distance is city beneath starry sky.
Margins, within circle of foliage (from top to bottom):
1) Scene, Liturgical: Visitation of Sick, Receiving Communion -- Man, wearing cap, with joined hands, reclines in bed, his head on cushion. Cleric, tonsured, stands at head of bed; priest, tonsured, wearing cope, holding wafer (host) in right hand stands at back side of bed. Bench is along front side of bed.
2) Peacock.
3) Scene, Secular: Burial, preparing Body -- Woman, with wimpled (?) veil, holding needle in right hand, sews shroud around body reclining on draped bed, head on cushion, hands crossed on abdomen. Bench is along front side of bed.
4) Scene, Secular: Distribution of Food -- Woman standing in doorway, her right hand reaching back into basket, and with left hand distributing alms to two beggars, one with no shoes, and the other with holes in tunic, possibly leaning on crutch.
Margins decorated with border of floreate and foliate ornament including rose and strawberry.