Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, after 1246
MS M.730 fol. 12v

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1) and 2) Magi: Adoration -- 1) Among three Magi, two, crowned, beardless, stand, holding gifts; one points with right hand toward Star of Bethlehem (next panel; the eldest kneels, with left hand lifting crown off his head and with right hand raising vessel of coins with cover off.
2) Virgin Mary, decorated nimbus, veiled, sits on architectural bench, supporting on her right knee Christ Child, cross-nimbed, with right hand raised in blessing; star above.
3) and 4) Innocents: Massacre -- 3) Herod the Great, crowned, sits with legs crossed on bench decorated with trefoil architectural frame, holding sword in left hand and extending right hand.
4) One of two men raises sword in right hand and with left hand grasps hair of nude infant held in left hand of kneeling mother with raised right hand pushing the man's face away; another mother kneels, raising hands toward the other man with right hand holding upside down foot of nude infant stabbed with sword in his left hand.
Scenes 1 and 4 with gold diapered and punched backgrounds, and scenes 2 and 3 with blue backgrounds, within decorated frames.