Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, after 1246
MS M.730 fol. 178v

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Initial D:
Psalm 007 (Vulg., 007).
Initial D decorated with diapered infilling, and adjoined by ascender of dragon with foliate terminals inhabited by man wielding sword and shield (buckler), treading on tail of fantastic animal, and two men dancing, including one nude, with raised hands pointing to his head, and male musician playing viol, beside fantastic animal forming horizontal border extension with foliate tendrils, in upper margin.
Line ending: bird pecking at protruding tongue of fox lying on its back (Bestiary: Fox feigning Death).
Line ending: in jaws of fantastic animal, nude man and hybrid man, both fighting with spears and shields, the right one with heraldry of vert, a fess argent (Burlesque: Fighting).
Line ending: three escutcheons, the first gules, a bordure argent, the second Neuville-Vitasse, and the third Boisleux.
Line ending: snail encountering soldier, wearing helmet and chain mail, armed with sword and shield, hurling javelin (Burlesque: Fighting).
Line ending: two men dancing, one with raised hands pointing to his head and looking back at the other.
Line ending: heraldic escutcheon of Boisleux.
Line endings: geometric and foliate ornament.
Text page of Psalm 007 (Vulg., 007) of First Nocturn of Matins in Office of the Dead.