Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Farnese Hours
Italy, Rome, 1546
M.69, fol. 43r

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Miniature:
Moses: crossing Red Sea -- Moses, raising staff with right arm, walks looking back at sea. Behind him is group of men and women, one carrying bundle, two carrying large urns. In the sea are horses, leaping horses, men on horseback, one holding banner (?), men falling into water, drowned man, men in water. Twisting column of water separates Moses from the sea.
Upper margin:
Two putti flanking jewel, above string of pearls.
Left margin:
Putto sitting on pedestal on which is string of pearls; figures on front facade of pedestal; nude man, right arm over head, supporting the pedestal.
Right margin:
Putto sitting on pedestal on which is string of pearls; figures on two facades of pedestal, one raising right hand; of four putti, one sitting on vase decorated with supporting figure, dragons as handles, and mask, and two other putti around foot of the vase.
Lower margin:
Jewels, below plaque inscribed DOMINE AD ADIVANDVM ME FES[...], flanked by two putti and by two masks.
Text is from Hours of the Virgin, Vespers