Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Picture Bible
France, Paris, ca. 1244-1254
MS M.638 fol. 1v

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Zone 1:
1) Creation Scene: 5th Day -- Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, stands with right hand raised and left hand resting on world represented with birds above trees on dry land, sun and moon in clouds, whale and four fish in water. Above, half figures of four nimbed angels, with joined hands, emerge from clouds. Illustration of Genesis 1:20-23.
2) Creation Scene: 6th Day, and Adam: given Dominion -- Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, grasps right arm of nude Adam. Adam stands within world represented with animals (horse, ox, deer, lion, and ram), birds, including cock, stork, and bird flying toward nest of three, among trees, below sun and moon in clouds, and whale and four fish in water. Above, half figures of four nimbed angels, with joined hands, emerge from clouds. Illustration of Genesis 1:24-30.
Zone 2:
1) Eve: Creation -- Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, drawing right arm of Eve from side of Adam reclining with head resting on right arm; birds in trees. Illustration of Genesis 1:27. To right, Adam and Eve commanded by God -- Eve appears beside Adam with right hand grasped by Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, pointing to Tree of Knowledge; in foreground, four rivers of Paradise. Illustration of Genesis 2:16-17.
2) Adam and Eve: Fall of Man -- Winged serpent (dragon) with female head (Lilith), wearing headdress, coiled around tree, is flanked by Adam and Eve eating fruit, and by two trees. Illustration of Genesis 3:6.
Scenes with architectural frames.