Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Compilatio historiarum / Giovanni, da Udine
Switzerland, Basel, ca. 1476
MS M.158 fol. 25v

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Miniature, upper left: 1) Virgin Mary: Birth -- Joachim, name inscribed IOACHIM, wearing hat, sits on chair, with his left hand extends round loaf to extended left hand of infant Virgin Mary, name inscribed NOSTRAS MARIE, nimbed, supported by hands of Anna, name inscribed ANNA, nimbed, veiled, sitting on draped bed with headboard. Scene in bedroom with wooden ceiling and one arched window. Miniature, lower left: 2) Jesse: Tree -- Jesse, crowned, reclines on draped bed, with trunk issuing from abdomen forming four foliate medallions, enclosing crowned kings, including Solomon. On the trunk is Virgin Mary, nimbed, sitting with joined hands raised, above whom nimbed dove of Holy Ghost descends to her nimb. Scene in bedroom. Miniature, upper right: 3) Ezekiel: Porta Clausa -- Illusionistic wall of building with roof flanked by three towers surmounted by crennelations and crenellated wall. In wall, door with strapping and lock, at summit of stairs. Miniature, lower right: 4) Temple of Solomon -- Illusionistic wall of circular building with domed roof and pinnacle flanked by two towers surmounted by crennelations and crenellated wall. In wall, door with strapping and lock. Miniatures for Richel’s Spiegel der Menschlichen Behältnis (Basel: 1476) with biblical quotes, commentary and abbreviated extracts of the Latin text of Chapter 4 in the Speculum Humanae Salvationis.