Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Psalter-Hours of Guiluys de Boisleux
France, Arras, after 1246
MS M.730 fol. 226r

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Initial D decorated with diapered infilling and adjoined by ascender of fantastic animal with tail of foliate tendrils, enclosing two men dancing, one with raised hands pointing to his head and looking back at the other, and two birds, one with open beak, and foliate extensions with knots and interlace in upper margin.
Below the initial spandrel in lower margin, male caryatid as acrobat with head beneath hindquarters grasping his ankles.
Line ending: man, in jaws of fantastic animal and hybrid man, both jousting with poles and shields, one with heraldry of vert, a fess argent (?), and the other Boisleux (Burlesque: Jousting).
Line ending: cat holding mouse in mouth.
Line ending: long-eared hybrid animal with two bodies.
Line ending: two nude men, in jaws of fantastic animals, both fighting with swords and shields (bucklers) (Burlesque: Fighting).
Line ending: five escutcheons, the first Boisleux, the second Neuville-Vitasse, the third gules, a cross argent, the fourth gules, a bordure argent, and the fifth Neuville-Vitasse with label of three azure.
Line ending: bird pecking at protruding tongue of fox lying on its back (Bestiary: Fox feigning Death).
Line ending: three men dancing, the second with raised hands pointing to head, looking back at the first, and the third holding bagpipe (Sports and Games: Dancing).
Line endings: geometric and foliate ornament.
Text page of Psalm 097 (Vulg., Psalm 096) in Fourth Nocturn of Matins of Hours of the Virgin.