Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1500
MS H.5 fol. 63r

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Upper register:
1) Magi: Journey -- In left scene, angel, as half figure, descends from above, extending left hand. Below, eldest Magus, wearing crown, mounted on horse, raises right forefinger, indicating left. Behind him are other two Magi, wearing crowns, mounted on horses. In background are tops of heads of large group of soldiers, some with spears.
2) Magi: Adoration -- In center scene, Virgin Mary, nimbed, sits, holding in her lap nude Christ Child, rays as nimbus, hands extended toward eldest Magus, kneeling with joined hands raised. Vessel on ground in front of them. Behind are other Magi, wearing crowns. One holds vessel in right hand and raises left hand. The other holds vessel in left hand and raises right forefinger. Behind them is shed. Star of Bethlehem appears in sky.
3) Magi: beholding Star -- In right scene, eldest Magus, wearing crown, mounted on horse, raises left forefinger and indicates left. Behind him are other two Magi, wearing crowns, mounted on horses. In background are tops of heads of large group of soldiers, some with spears. Star of Bethlehem appears in sky.
Scenes in landscape settings, with buildings of city in distance.
Lower register:
Magi: before Herod the Great -- Group of soldiers, wearing armor, some holding spears (only tops of heads of all but three visible), stand behind youngest Magus, wearing crown, raising right forefinger. Of other two Magi, wearing crowns, one raises right hand and other raises left hand and extends right hand toward Herod the Great, wearing crown, seated in draped throne, with right hand extended.
Scene in room with window open onto landscape setting, above which is Star of Bethlehem. On wall below window, inscription reads, VER [...] REX HERO(D)
Miniatures within architectural frame, with four statues of male figures above columns of upper register. Three of the statues raise their right forefingers and indicate left. The left-most statue indicates right with his right forefinger.
Bird within decorated initial D.