Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Picture Bible
France, Paris, ca. 1244-1254
MS M.638 fol. 17r

See more information »

Zone 1:
1) Benjamites: catching Wives -- Man plays pipe and tabor, in window of tower, and man, wearing bicolored garment, plays fiddle in the portal. Two of three daughters of Shiloh dance with clasped hands before tree; the third is seized by one of Benjamite soldiers in mail, armed with axe and spear. Other soldiers hide in vineyard. To right, two daughters of Shiloh are held by four Benjamite soldiers, armed with axe, spear, and notched falchion, all standing before four elders in portal of building. Illustration of Judges 21:23.
Zone 2:
1) Naomi: advising Daughters -- Orpah and Ruth, both veiled, with left hands raised, stand before veiled Naomi touching one daughter; tree in background. Illustration of Ruth 1:8-14.
2) Naomi: followed by Ruth -- Ruth, veiled, follows, with left hand on shoulder of veiled Naomi, wearing vair-lined mantle. They are greeted by three women, two veiled and one wearing headdress, at portal of building.
Illustration of Ruth 1:16-22.
Architectural frames.