Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, 1430-1435
MS M.359 fol. 119v

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Scene, Liturgical: Obsequies -- Two hooded monks, with escutcheons with arms of King of France (azure a semy fleur-de-lis or) on their shoulders, holding lighted candles with small escutcheons with arms of King of France, flank draped bier enclosed in chapelle ardente, alight with candles, decorated with fleur-de-lis, and surmounted by seven crosses. Flanking the chapelle ardent are choirstalls with three men on left, including one holding open book, and on right three tonsured priests, wearing vestments, and three hooded mourners, one possibly holding open book with pseudo-inscription in his lap. Two more hooded monks with lighted candles look from behind choirstalls. In background is draped altar with side curtains. Scene in church with tile floor, leaded-glass windows, and groin vault inscribed with stars.
Margins with ivy-rinceaux, foliate, and vinescroll ornament, with four medallions in corners:
1) Scene, Liturgical: Confession -- Man, wearing chaperon hanging down his back, kneeling, extends his hand to hand of priest, wearing almuce, seated on chair.
2) Scene, Liturgical: Visitation of Sick -- Man, bare-chested, lays beneath covers in canopy bed and holds in left hand lighted candle. Cleric, standing beside the bed, supports the sick man's wrist with his hands. Beside him stands veiled woman or priest wearing almuce, holding object in both hands. Diapered background.
3) Scene, Liturgical: Extreme Unction -- Man, wearing head scarf, lays in canopied bed beneath covers. Tonsured priest, standing beside the bed, holding two chalices in left hand, extends wafer (host) to the sick man. Behind the priest stand acolyte, holding lighted candle (?), and another man. Diapered background.
4) Scene, Secular: Burial, preparing Body -- Woman, wearing veil, sews into shroud body of man, laying on bed. Landscape with tree visible through window of room.