Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, after 1246
MS M.730 fol. 16r

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1) Christ: Harrowing of Hell -- Christ, cross-nimbed, wearing partly draped mantle, with right hand thrusts cross-staff into jaws of fallen, green horned devil, and with left hand grasps left hand of Adam raising right hand and stepping out of flaming Hell Mouth in which is Eve raising hands and on which sits horned devil with protruding tongue and wings at neck.
2) Christ: noli me tangere -- Beside tree, Mary Magdalen, nimbed, partly kneels with hands raised raised, looking up toward Christ, cross-nimbed, wearing partly draped mantle, with right hand raised and cross-staff in left hand.
3) Christ: on Road to Emmaus, or Apostle, Thomas: Incredulity -- Disciple or Apostle Thomas, wearing pilgrim's hat with shell and purse slung over shoulder, holds pilgrim's staff in right hand and raises right hand toward Christ, cross-nimbed, wearing partly draped mantle, with right hand raised and cross-staff in left hand.
4) Christ: Ascension -- Christ disappears into cloud, showing only His feet above Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, seated, accompanied by thirteen apostles in two rows, some seated, and many gesturing.
Scenes 1 and 4 with gold diapered and punched backgrounds, and scenes 2 and 3 with blue backgrounds, within decorated frames.