Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Farnese Hours
Italy, Rome, 1546
M.69, fol. 39r

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Miniature:
Solomon: visited by Queen of Sheba -- Below canopy, Solomon, wearing phrygian cap with crown, half sitting on throne with supporting male figure, extends right arm to Sheba, holding covered vessel with right hand, her left hand on her breast, kneeling before him. Two other women kneel behind her. Behind them are group of men, some wearing hats, some wearing hoods, and women, one (?) veiled. In background are fluted, twisted columns, decorated with figures, some winged, some climbing, below corinthian columns.
In lower left corner of miniature, short man, wearing cap, looks over right shoulder at the viewer.
Upper margin:
Winged putto, holding foliage in raised left hand, sitting amid foliage in footed bowl flanked by two putti holding noses of heads from whose mouths emerges bunting tied in bow below the footed bowl. At each corner, seated figure grasping foliage.
Left margin:
Putto, grasping scroll with left hand, standing in foliage above nude male figure, partially back-turned, drapery falling from his head down front side of his body, standing on pedestal decorated with face.
Right margin:
Putto, grasping scroll with right hand, standing in foliage above nude male figure, back turned, raising right hand, drapery falling from his head down front side of his body, standing on pedestal decorated with face.
Lower margin:
In center,plaque inscribed DOMINE AD ADIVVANDVM ME FESTINA, decorated with head with large mustache, indicated or touched by two winged putti, flanking and grasping the tablet. Below, one of two putti grasping bunting, knotted through the plaque. At left, fantastic animal and three figures, possibly putti; at right, two putti, one winged, and another fantastic animal.
Text is from Hours of the Virgin, None