Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Picture Bible
France, Paris, ca. 1244-1254
MS M.638 fol. 12v

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Zone 1:
1) Sisera: given Milk by Jael -- Two soldiers, in mail, armed with spears, attend Sisera, crowned, in mail, with left hand on sword, drinking from bowl received from Jael. Illustration of Judges 4:19.
Sisera: killed by Jael -- To right, Sisera, crowned, in mail, lies in draped bed beneath curtains draped over rod, before Jael with left hand placing nail in his eye and raising hammer in right hand. To right, Jael, with hammer in left hand, points with right hand to Sisera. She looks toward Barak and three soldiers, in mail, armed with swords and spears. Illustration of Judges 4:21.
Zone 2:
1) Gideon: Angel appearing -- Gideon, wearing cap, raises flail over six bundles of grain; one of three servants, wearing caps, holds sheaf of grain, one holds rake, and one, wearing trousers, threshing with flail. Nimbed angel holds scroll in hand, emerging from cloud. Illustration of Judges 6:11,12.
2) Gideon: Offering consumed -- Servant, wearing cap and trousers, winnows grain beside tree. Gideon pours broth from pitcher in left hand onto kid on lighted altar touched by rod in right hand of nimbed angel emerging from cloud. Illustration of Judges 6:21.
Scenes with architectural frames.