Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Breviary
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1500
MS M.52 fol. 33r

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Historiated border, framing two columns of text, with following scenes in landscape setting:
Magi: Adoration -- In foreground of lower border, two men look on as male figure, black, kneeling on one knee, extends vessel to black magus, crowned. Middle-aged magus, removing crown held in left hand, stands behind eldest magus, crown on ground, kneeling. He grasps hand of Christ Child, cross-nimbed, nude, held by Virgin Mary, rays as nimbus, seated beside ox and ass within stable. Joseph the Carpenter appears in doorway of stable.
In background, to left, entourages of magi gather, some mounted on caparisoned horses and carrying standards.
Christ: Flight into Egypt -- In right border, Joseph, holding basket, leads bridled ass on which Virgin Mary, nimbed, is seated sideways. She holds Christ Child, nimbed, swaddled, in arms. Angel appears above.