Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Moralized Bible
France, Paris, between 1227-1234
MS M.240 fol. 4r

	From top to bottom in left and right columns, eight medallions enclose as follows:
	Left column:
	1A) Apocalypse: Christ promising New Age -- Clouds surround Christ, cross-nimbed, seated on cushioned bench in mandorla, raising right hand and with left hand pointing downward toward left at John, nimbed, seated with left hand raised to cheek and with pen in right hand writing on scroll draped over lectern.
	Biblical quotation, ET DIXIT QUI SEDEBAT IN THRONO. ECCE NOUA FACIO OMNIA. ET DIXIT MICHI SCRIBE QUIA H(EC) UERBA FIDELISSIMA SUNT ET UERA, from Revelation 21:05.
	1B) Scene, Ecclesiastic, Preaching -- Tonsured monk, wearing habit, raises left hand and extends right hand toward six men, two with right hands raised to faces, two with hands raised, and one wearing hooded garment;
	above, six crowned souls of Elect, with hands raised, flank Christ, cross-nimbed, extending right hand toward the monk and raising left hand, all emerging from clouds.
	Commentary, HOC QUOD DICIT UT SCRIBAT SIGNIFICAT QUOD NOS AMMONET PER SUOS PREDICATORES AD BONA CELESTIA ACQUIRENDA.
	2A) Apocalypse: Christ promising New Age -- Christ, cross-nimbed, lowers left hand and with right hand presents chalice to one of six men, two with hands raised, all surrounded by clouds; in foreground, spring of water.
	Biblical quotation, ET DIXIT MICHI FACTUM EST. EGO SUM ALPHA ET O(MEGA) INITIUM ET FINIS. EGO SITIENTI DABO DE FONTE AQUE UITE GRATIS, from Revelation 21:06;
	QUI UICERIT POSSIDEBIT HEC ET ERO ILLI DEUS ET IPSE ERIT MICHI FILIUS, from Revelation 21:07.
	2B) Christological Scene -- Christ, cross-nimbed, holds open book in draped left hand and raises right hand before eight men, one wearing cap, presenting round object, possibly loaf, to man, wearing cap, kneeling with hands raised (Almsgiving); above, six crowned souls of Elect with hands raised, all emerge from clouds.
	Commentary, HOC QUOD DICIT QUOD EST PRINCIPIUM ET FINIS SIGNIFICAT QUOD BONA QUE H(ABE)M(U)S AB IPSO SUNT. AQUA UIUA QUAM PROMITTIT SIGNIFICAT GLORIAM Q(UA)M SUIS DABIT FIDELIBUS.
	Right column:
	3A) Apocalypse: Christ promising New Age -- Christ, cross-nimbed, lowers right hand and raises left hand toward twelve men, one with right hand raised, another with head draped, raising left hand to face, and holding animal in right hand, three with hands raised to faces, all behind three men, one with head draped, another wearing cap, with left hand raised, all falling into Hell Mouth; all surrounded by clouds.
	Biblical quotation, TIMIDIS AUTEM ET INCREDULIS ET FORNICATORIBUS ET EXECRATIS ET HOMICIDIS UENEFICIS YDOLATRIS ET OMNIBUS MENDACIBUS PARS ILLORUM ERIT IN STAGNO ARDENTI IGNE ET SULPHURE QUOD EST MORS SECUNDA, based on Revelation 21:08
	3B) Christological Scene -- Beneath clouds, Christ, cross-nimbed, holds book in left hand and raises right hand toward eight men, four wearing pointed caps, three with right hands raised, one holding moneybag, four with left hands raised to faces, all in Hell Mouth.
	Commentary, HOC TOTUM PLANUM EST. ET TANGIT HIC .VII. GENERA PECCATORUM E QUIBUS QUISQUE SI MORTU(US) FUERIT SINE UERA CONFESSIONE ET P(E)N(ITENC)IA ABSQUE DUBIO ETERNA MORTE PUNIETUR. QUE MORS SECUNDA DICITUR.
	4A) Apocalypse: New Jerusalem -- John, nimbed, sits on bench, with left hand grasped by right hand of nimbed angel holding vial in left hand, beside six angels, nimbed and wearing fillets, two holding vials, one with right hand raised; above, clouds.
	Biblical quotation, ET UENIT UNUS DE SEPTEM ANGELIS HABENTIBUS PHIALAS PLENAS .VII. PLAGIS NOUISSIMIS ET LOCUTUS EST MECUM DICENS. VENI ET OSTENDA(M) TI(BI) SPONSAM UXOREM AGNI, from Revelation 21:09.
	4B) Personification of Church, nimbed, crowned, veiled, raises hands behind two tonsured monks, wearing habits, bending heads, and raising hands toward tonsured abbot, wearing habit, with crozier in left hand and right hand raised in blessing (suggesting Reception of Novice); above, six crowned souls of nude Elect, with hands raised, emerge from clouds.
	Commentary, QUELIBET ANIMA FIDELIS MUNDO RENUNCIANS CUM AD SERUIENDUM DEO CONSECRATA FUIT UXOR AGNI .1. SPONSA CHRISTI EST.
	Patterned backgrounds and borders.

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