Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, possibly Brussels, ca. 1475
MS M.485 fol. 20v

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Christ: Bewailing -- Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled with wimple, with hands clasped on breast, is seated with body of Christ, nimbed, bleeding from wounds, across her lap. His head and shoulders are supported by Holy Woman, nimbed and veiled, kneeling at left. Behind them is Mary Magdalen, nimbed and veiled with wimple, holding cloth to face with right hand and ointment jar with left hand. Evangelist John, nimbed, hands clasped at breast is at right, looking toward Christ. Cross with illegible titulus, is behind Virgin Mary; open ointment jar is in foreground.
Scene in landscape with rocky outcrop, trees, and buildings, including church, in background
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including rose, violet (viola) and strawberry, and inhabited by rooster (cock). In lower margin, one of two monkeys raising club with right hand and holding another club with left hand; the other monkey standing at some distance, hands raised and bound around tall pole.