Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1475
MS M.1001 fol. 88r

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Miniature:
Male figure, astride leopard with teeth bared, stabs himself in chest with dagger held in right hand and eats heart held in left hand. Identified as Anger by label inscribed IRE. Winged devil, identified by scroll inscribed LEVIATHAN, holding iron claw in left hand and raising right hand, follows him. Figures within room decorated with patterned hanging.
Lower margin:
Three groups of figures represent anger. In first group, two women quarrel, one standing in doorway holding spindle in right hand, the other with hands on hips. In between them, two dogs fight. In second group, two women quarrel, one raising distaff held in left hand, the other raising both hands and turning head. In third group, three men quarrel. First man, with dagger at waist, attacks second man, on ground, piercing first man with sword held in right hand. Third man, making fist with raised left hand, looks on.