Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Farnese Hours
Italy, Rome, 1546
M.69, fol. 32v

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Left margin:
Winged, nude figure, standing behind breastplate over tunic, arms outstretched to two shields with faces. Below, armless, winged female (?) figure flanked by two putti in combat, holding round shields (bucklers) on left arms and one raising stick or sword with right hand (the other weapon trimmed off edge of page). Profile bust portrait of Alexander the Great (facing portrait of Alessandro Farnese on facing page), wearing helmet decorated with nude figure confronting centaur, holding shield and spear, and with human face over visor, all surmounted by fantastic animal, possibly dragon; on his breastplate, head of Medusa. Below Alexander, youthful nude male figure, right arm extended to breastplate, left hand holding mace, standing amid arms and armor including shields, sword, helmet, mace, and spear.
Lower margin:
Next to rocky outcrop or volcano, nude male figure, possibly Vulcan, extends right arm, semi-reclines on ground, partially hidden by another rocky outcrop. Another nude figure, arms raised, in background of landscape.
Landscape continues to facing page.