Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1440
M.303 fol. 43r

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Christ: Nativity -- Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled, reclines with head on pillow in draped bed. She holds right hand to face and extends left hand to grasp cloth partially covering to nude Christ Child, crossed nimbus, reclining in wattle manger. Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, sitting at foot of the bed, raises crutch with right hand touching head of ass in wattle pen with ox. Midwife is in foreground pouring water from pitcher into basin. All beneath partly ruined roof abutting rocky outcrop, and supported by slender poles. Doves fly about and nest on the roof. Shepherd, looking up, holding pedum over shoulder, is in background with sheep. City is in distance; man blowing horn stands atop one of the towers.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including cornflower and inhabited by birds including owl and parrot, and by monkey, holding pen with right hand and scroll on lap with left hand, seated on bench next to inkpot (Scene, Burlesque).