Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Farnese Hours
Italy, Rome, 1546
M.69, fol. 17v

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Miniature:
Virgin Mary: Visitation -- Elizabeth, wearing headdress, grasps with both hands, right hand and arm of Virgin Mary, wearing headdress. Behind Elizabeth is man, probably Zacharias, two other men and one woman emerging from or standing in doorway of building. Behind Virgin Mary, woman carries bundle on head with right arm and another under her left arm. Next to her is man with crutch, probably Joseph the Carpenter; another with woman is in background.
Scene in landscape with buildings.
Upper margin:
Border of camaeu including head; plaque in center, enclosing standing figure extending rod (?) with right hand, and figure kneeling before altar (?) from which smoke rises (?) (Scene, Sacrificial) within frame flanked by two foliate masks; at left, bowl with two handles in which are fleurs-de-lis, next to which stands putto looking toward winged putto extending with right hand fleur-de-lis to third putto behind scroll; at right, putto behind scroll looking toward fleur-de-lis held by winged putto; third putto, behind urn, surmounted by fleur-de-lis.
Left margin:
Border of camaeu including lozenge enclosing two standing figures, within frame decorated with caryatids and held by by raised right hand of partially nude woman; masks.
Right margin:
Border of camaeu including lozenge enclosing standing figure, possibly woman, indicating toward right with right arm, within frame held by by raised right hand of back-turned woman, one foot standing on base of overturned (?) vase; masks.
Lower margin:
Virgin Mary: Presentation -- In lozenge in center of margin, small figure mounts long flight of stairs, right hand extended toward figure(s) standing at top next to column. At base of stairs, left is back-turned beggar, nude (?), on ground raising plate with left hand into which man, wearing hat, places object with right hand; another man stands next to them. At right are woman and three (?) men. In background is building surmounted by statue.
Border of camaeu including at left, unicorn with blue tether held by partially nude woman, seated; putto next to large urn decorated with figures, and surmounted with fleur-de-lis; winged putto. At right, winged putto; partially nude female (?) figure, seated, right arm extended to blue collar worn by crouching unicorn; putto next to vase with handle from which fleurs-de-lis emerge.