Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Netherlands, ca. 1494
MS M.1078 fol. 52v

See more information »

Christ: Crucifixion -- Christ, with crossed rayed nimbus, wearing short loin cloth and crown of thorns, bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nails to cross with titulus inscribed INRI. Mary Magdalen, wearing turban, with rays as nimbus, embraces base of cross. Around the cross are two men, wearing hats; two holy women, wearing turbans, with rays as nimbus; Virgin Mary, veiled, with hands crossed on her breast, swooning in arms of Evangelist John, both with rays as nimbus; three soldiers, casting lots with dice on cloth on ground; and Pilate (?), wearing ermine hat and collar, standing amid group of helmeted soldiers. Scene in landscape with distant city of Jerusalem, hills, and trees.
Margins with scattered flowers, including roses and violas, inhabited by three birds, butterfly, and fly.