Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, after 1246
MS M.730 fol. 134v

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Initial A:
Psalm 119:025 (Vulg., 118:025).
Initial A decorated with foliate extensions entwined with fantastic animal, and formed by fantastic animal with foliate terminal composed of spiralling tendrils in which are two dancing men, nude from waist down, one raising hands pointing to head, and two women, one dancing, and the other as acrobat bending backward over the tendril and grasping her feet, all adjoined by fantastic animal in lower margin.
Line ending: two fantastic animals swallowing the third biting the first one.
Line ending: two heraldic escutcheons, one Boisleux, and the other Neuville-Vitasse.
Line ending: two men, one half-nude, both armed with swords and shields, combatting
Line ending: rabbit pursued by dog.
Line ending: cat holding mouse in mouth.
Line ending: escutcheon of vert, a fess argent; man thrusting spear into animal, possibly boar (Sports and Games, Hunting, Boar?).
Line endings: geometric and foliate ornament.