Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, ca. 1430
MS M.64 fol. 32r

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Virgin Mary: Visitation -- Virgin Mary, with decorated nimbus and veil, embraces Elizabeth, with decorated nimbus and wimpled veil, kneeling. Two angels (?), nimbed (?), look down from top of wall in background. Scene in canopied architectural frame flanked by six niches containing statues, including Apostle Peter, nimbed, holding key in right hand. Statue in spandrel of two arches; banners and crosses on top of canopy.
Margins, within circle of foliage, beginning with top right:
1) Scene: unidentified, New Testament (?) -- Woman, wearing headdress, and man, wearing hood, with pouch on girdle at waist, holding staff in left hand, face man, extending cup with right hand, holding flagon with left hand, standing before building. Scene in landscape with trees.
2) Samson: slaying Lion -- Samson, wearing hat, rending jaws of lion in hilly landscape with trees.
3) Scene: unidentified, Biblical -- Shepherd, wearing hood, using pedum as crutch, looks up toward rays, standing beside sheep in landscape with trees.
Margins decorated with border of foliate and floreate ornament, including strawberry.