Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, after 1246
MS M.730 fol. 19v

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1) David: beheading Goliath -- Young David, with sword in raised left hand, holds in right hand head of Goliath, decapitated, wearing chain mail with scabbard, seated on ground; spear in background.
Illustration of I Samuel 17:51.
2) David: bringing Head of Goliath to Saul -- Young David, armed with spear and sword of Goliath, presents severed head of Goliath, in chain mail, to Saul, crowned, holding object in right hand and extending left hand toward him, seated on bench. Scene in architectural setting.
Illustration of I Samuel 17:57.
3) David: Glorification -- Eleven men, all (?) mounted, one holding lance, accompany Saul, crowned, mounted, and young David, mounted, holding blade of sword and carrying severed head of Goliath in chain mail, all approaching two women, wearing berbettes, one playing square tambourine and the other castenets, at city gate above which are two men blowing horns.
Illustration of I Samuel 18:6,7.
4) David: appointed Captain -- Seated with legs crossed on bench on podium, beneath architectural frame, Saul, crowned, extends right hand toward David, with right hand at waist, in front of nine mounted soldiers, wearing helmets and chain mail, armed with lances, two bannered.
Illustration of I Samuel 18:13.
Scenes against gold backgrounds within decorated frames.