Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of hours
Belgium, Bruges, 1525-1530
MS M.1175. Fol. 016v

See more information »

Evangelist, John: boiled in Oil -- Evangelist John, nimbed, nude, with joined hands raised, stands in vat atop oven with fire stoked by bellows held by tormentor at right. His head poured with possibly ash in ladle by another tormentor behind him.
At right stands soldier, wearing full armor and brocaded gown, with right hand on hilt of sword at right side, halberd in left hand, beside Domitian, wearing turban-like crown and ermine-trimmed garment, with left hand holding scepter, seated on thone of the canopy type; collared greyhound reclining in foreground beside planks of wood.
In background, group of men, all wearing hats or headgear, and including at least one solider, wearing armor and holding halberd, another holding spear, all behind ornamental partitition.
Scene before palace buildings and silhouettes of figures in distance.