Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of hours
Belgium, Bruges, 1525-1530
MS M.1175. Fol. 077v

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Innocents: Massacre -- Man, wearing hat, with right hand raising dagger and with left hand extended toward one of three women, veiled, raising club-like weapon with left hand and with right hand holding swaddled infant, the other woman, wearing turban-like headgear and apron, with right hand raising object, with right foot on face of man, trampled on ground. The third woman, wearing headdress, gathering up swaddled infant.
In foreground, nude infant wounded in abdomen and bleeding, and another swaddled infant, between helmet.
Around the scene, two youths, wearing headgear, one with purse tied to belt, both dancing, and two others, wearing hats, kneeling beside basket, playing skittles.
In background left, mercantile scene of sacks and barrels on ground and ship beside possibly crane. City buildings and silhouettes of figures in far distance.