Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1475
MS M.1001 fol. 34r

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Miniature:
Virgin Mary: Visitation -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, raises right hand and extends left hand toward Elizabeth, nimbed, veiled, kneeling, placing right hand on Virgin's abdomen. Joseph the Carpenter, nimbed, and female figure flank Virgin Mary. Second female figure, holding basket with fruit, stands behind Elizabeth. Figures within landscape in which path leads up hill toward buildings. Buildings of city visible in background.
Miniature and text framed by historiated border with the following scenes:
Left border:
Angel, holding scroll, appears in top left corner above Visitation scene.
Right border:
1) John Baptist: Preaching -- John Baptist, nimbed, hands at breast, wearing garment of skins, stands at pulpit comprised of pole laid across two supports. He preaches to crowd of male and female figures, backs turned. Lamb of God, nimbed, holding cross-staff, lies on ground beside him.
Lower border:
John Baptist: Birth -- Within first of two compartments framed by arches, Elizabeth, reclining in bed, extends left arm to grasp vessel held by female attendant. Second female attendant stands at foot of bed.
Within second compartment, midwife washes infant John Baptist, nimbed, nude, in basin on floor before fireplace in which cauldron hangs above fire. Female attendant looks on. Room is furnished with bench.