Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Spain, perhaps Burgos or Segovia, 1465-1480
MS M.854 fol. 135v

See more information »

Christ: Last Judgment -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, seated, and holding open book, and Evangelist John, nimbed, kneeling before closed book with hands clasped to breast, are below Christ, with crossed nimbus, emanating rays, partially draped, arms orant, showing wounds, seated on arc with feet on cross-inscribed globe. Flanking him are two angels playing horns.
Miniature enclosed in frame inscribed QVANTVS TREMOR ESTE FVTVRVS QVANDO IVDEX ESTE VENTVRVS CVNTA ESTRICTE DISCVTVRVS (sic).
Amid foliate ornament in margins are angel, standing in gate of heaven with two towers, with sword in left hand and raising right hand toward nude figure, possibly soul, with head inclined and joined hands raised, as another nude figure walks away from gate; Hell Mouth holds in its mouth bleeding half figure, with another head below its paw; two nude figures huddle behind angel, gesturing toward miniature; devil, wtih flames issuing from mouth and groin, carries nude figure on its back; and four nude souls (?), with bodies splayed out as though floating, including one tonsured.
Miniature and ornament executed in grisaille and gold tones with color accents.