Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Farnese Hours
Italy, Rome, 1546
M.69, fol. 26v

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Miniature:
Christ: Nativity and Shepherds: Adoration -- Virgin Mary, veiled, with left hand holds diaphanous drapery behind nude Christ Child, rays as nimbus, reclining on draped stone manger. Shepherd, partially nude, holding pedum with right hand, looks toward Christ Child. At his feet is lamb with legs bound. Behind Virgin Mary, woman carries container on head, shepherd, wearing soft peaked cap holds lamb toward which Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hood, extends his hands. At right, are five onlookers, two wearing headgear, one holding bagpipe. Ox and ass are in background.
Scene in ruined building, above which are three winged putti, hovering, one holding scroll, and at right, angel looking toward another figure.
Upper margin:
At center, oval enclosing seven (?) winged putti surrounding bed (?) on which figure reclines, all surrounded by frame supported by two nude figures at uprights. At left, winged putto; partially nude man, flanked by two shields and vase decorated with figures, resting his elbow on cushion, looking toward putto leaning on pitcher decorated with mask and figures. At right, putto indicating with left hand pitcher decorated with face, and looking toward, nude male figure, resting right elbow on cushion, looking toward the putto; another putto behind left shoulder of the man.
Left margin:
In niche, statue of partially draped nude man raising left hand across his body. At base of niche, panel with figure astride one or two dolphins. Niche flanked by two satyrs, wearing hats, arms crossed on breasts.
Right margin:
Two addorsed satyrs, wearing hats, arms crossed on breasts.
Lower margin:
Christ: among Doctors -- In center, cameo in which Christ sits on bench atop five steps, flanked by eleven (?) men, six (?) wearing headgear, three raising arms, two sitting on benches. Cameo enclosed in frame supported by two figures leaning on uprights.
At left, below winged head (mask), two winged putti embracing, standing on pedestal decorated with scene, of three figures kneeling before animal standing on altar and fourth figure behind altar raising object with right hand (Scene: Sacrificial ?). Pedestal flanked by masks. Another winged putto seated on cushion, leaning on the pedestal, looking toward the two putti. At right, backturned winged putto, leaning on pedestal on which stands putto below winged head (mask). Scene decorating pedestal of figure standing on mound or altar, surrounded by three figures, one standing, raising right arm, and two kneeling, one with arms outstretched.