Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Netherlands, ca. 1500
MS M.156 fol. 149v

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Margin, left, top to bottom:
1) Christ: Resurrection -- Christ, nimbed, raising right hand in blessing, holding processional cross with left hand, His body partially draped, emerges from sarcophagus flanked by two soldiers sitting on ground.
2)Christ: sending out Apostles -- Christ, with joined hands, stands amid six (?) apostles and Virgin Mary, veiled with wimple, all nimbed, kneeling, some with joined hands.
3) Christ: Ascension -- Virgin Mary, veiled, and eleven apostles, all nimbed (for two apostles, only nimbi visible), kneel around base of small hill. Christ ascends amid rays into blue cloud from top of hill, only feet and bottom of robe visible; footprints remain on top of hill.
4) Pentecost -- Amid twelve (?) apostles, nimbed, kneeling, some with joined hands, Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, and wearing wimple, with joined hands, kneels at prie-dieu on which is open book. Dove of Holy Ghost hovers amid rays above them.
5) Virgin Mary: Assumption -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, with joined hands, is lifted by five angels. God or Christ, in arc of Heaven, is above right.
6) Christ: Last Judgment -- Christ, nimbed, arms extended, body partially draped to show wounds, is seated on arc with feet resting on globe. He is flanked by half figures of Virgin Mary and John Baptist, both nimbed with joined hands.
Margin, lower, left to right:
1) Half figure of prophet, wearing hat and garment with fur collar, raising left hand.
2) Half figure of sibyl, wearing turban type of headdress with chin strap, raising right hand.
3) Virgin Mary: Coronation -- Christ, nimbed, and God, nimbed, wearing papal tiara, holding cross surmounted globe with left hand, sit on bench, sharing mantle. Both touch crown worn by Virgin Mary, with joined hands, kneeling in front of them.
Architectural frame with columns, arches, ornament.