Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, ca. 1430
MS M.64 fol. 47v

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Christ: Circumcision -- Joseph the Carpenter (?), wearing hat, with pouch on girdle at waist, holds with draped hands, Christ Child, crossed nimbus, arms extended. He is seated on cushion, on draped table before Mohel, head draped, holding knife in left hand. Looking on are: woman holding basket containing three doves; Virgin Mary, with decorated nimbus, veiled, hands raised; and Anna the Prophetess (?), nimbed and veiled, with hands joined. A fourth woman, wearing wimpled veil is at left holding small garment above small figure with bellows before fire; in foreground is dog biting itself. Scene in canopied, windowed, architectural frame with statues in niches on pendants, and with crosses surmounting pinnacles and domes. Two men on top of canopy holding bells (?).
Left margin, within circle of foliage (top to bottom):
1) Scene, Sports and Games: Hunting, Bird -- Man wearing hat, stands with arrow drawn in bow, aiming at bird in tree.
2) Man, wearing hat, with hands joined, kneels before king, crowned, raising right hand, holding scepter in left hand, seated on bench, with group of five (?) figures behind him, the foremost raising left hand. Scene in landscape with tree.
Lower margin, within circle of foliage:
Two horsemen, wearing hats and armor, riding bridled horses, one raising right hand, look back at animal following them. Scene in landscape with tree.
Margins decorated with border of foliate and floreate ornament.