Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, after 1246
MS M.730 fol. 94r

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1) David: Battle between Kingdoms of Saul and David -- Two groups of soldiers, wearing chain mail, including some wearing helmets, and many mounted, battle with swords, shields, and bows and arrows; one horseman with lance transfixes one of fallen soldiers. Ishbosheth and David not represented.
Illustration of II Samuel 3:1.
2) Ishbosheth: Death -- Baanah and Rechab, one wearing chain mail and the other wearing helmet, with left hands grasp crown of Ishbosheth and with swords in right hands attack him sleeping on draped four-post bed. Scene in architectural setting.
Illustration of II Samuel 4:5-7.
3) David: brought Head of Ishbosheth -- David, crowned, sits on bench with feet on footstool, extending right hand before Baanah and Rechab, both wearing chain mail, one holding rod and the other holding crowned head of Ishbosheth on charger; two bridled horses (only foreparts visible). Scene in architectural setting.
Illustration of II Samuel 4:8.
4) David: proclaimed King -- Two of four flanking elders of Israel place crown above head of David with joined hands raised in front, seated on bench. Scene in architectural setting of Hebron.
Illustration of II Samuel 5:3.
Scenes with gold punched backgrounds, within decorated frames.