Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Picture Bible
France, Paris, ca. 1244-1254
MS M.638 fol. 25r

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Zone 1:
1) Samuel: communicating with God -- Beside tree, Samuel, head draped, kneels with joined hands raised toward Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, emerging from cloud. Illustration of I Samuel 15:11.
2) Saul: Rending of Garment -- To right, eight Israelites stand, attending Saul, crowned, with right hand rending (tearing) garment of Samuel, head draped, pointing back at it. Illustration of I Samuel 15:27.
Zone 2:
1) Saul: Samuel demanding Agag -- Agag, crowned, wearing tunic and long loin cloth, stands with hands bound by rope, and feet bound by chains. He is held by five soldiers in mail; some are armed with axe, sword, and bannered spear. Saul, crowned, wearing vair-lined mantle, points to Agag and turns his head toward Samuel at right. Illustration of I Samuel 15:32.
2) Samuel: hewing Agag -- To right, Samuel, head draped, raises sword in right hand over severed body of Agag, entrails spilling out and crown fallen before tree. Illustration of I Samuel 15:32-33.
Scenes with architectural frames.