Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Netherlands, ca. 1500
MS M.156 fol. 146r

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Margin, right, top to bottom:
1) Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, with joined hands, kneels at prie-dieu on which is open book. Archangel Gabriel, right hand extended toward Mary, stands before her.
2) Virgin Mary: Visitation -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, stands facing Elizabeth, nimbed and veiled, and wearing wimple, her hands clasped. Fence, trees and building in background.
3) Christ: Nativity -- Nude Christ Child, lies amid rays on straw. He is flanked by Virgin Mary, nimbed, kneeling with joined hands, and by Joseph the Carpenter, kneeling with joined hands. Scene in stable with grid as roof through which rays descend, and with wattle fence across opening.
4) Virgin Mary and Christ Child: Type, Suckling -- Virgin Mary, nimbed is seated on bed in stable, suckling nude Christ Child, nimbed.
5) Virgin Mary and Christ Child -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, is seated on bed holding swaddled Christ Child. Ass is at manger in background.
6) Shepherds: Annunciation -- Of two shepherds wearing hats, one holding staff with left hand, looks up toward bust of angel in sky above inscription GLORIA IN EXC[ELSIS]. In background are sheep and wattle fence.
Margin, lower, in arches separated by colonnettes:
1) Prophet, wearing hat, indicating with right hand scroll inscribed ECCE VIR[GO] held with left hand.
2) Sibyll, wearing turban type of headdress with chin strap, orant.
3) Moses, horned, raising right hand.
Architectural frame with columns, arches, vault.