Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1475
MS M.1001 fol. 91r

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Miniature:
Male figure, with money bag at waist, seated astride wolf with teeth bared and tongue extended, empties second moneybag held in right hand and holds in left hand rod with scroll inscribed AUARICE, identifying him as Avarice. Winged devil, identified by scroll held in his left hand inscribed with letter M of Mammon (remaining text has been obliterated), is seated on floor behind him. Figures within room.
Lower margin:
Three groups of figures represent avarice. In first group, three men converse. First man indicates, with right hand, third man reaching into money bag. Second man , with money bag at waist, places right hand on right arm of first man and raises left hand. In second group, woman, with moneybag tied at waist, raising right hand, stands above two women seated on ground, one holding distaff under right arm. In third group, man carrying large sack over shoulder negotiates with another man seated behind desk covered with coins.