Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Savoy or Besançon, ca. 1470
MS M.196 fol. 40v

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Magi: Adoration -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, sits holding on her lap, nude Christ Child, nimbed, raising right hand and extending left hand toward gold vessel held by eldest Magus in left hand with cross-surmounted lid in right hand. Behind him are the other Magi, one crowned, holding gold, cross-surmounted container with draped hand, the other wearing short fur-lined tunic, holding gold, cross-surmounted container with left hand.
Scene outside of shed under thatch roof with holes, in which are ass and ox. Star in peak of roof. In background, landscape under blue sky with stars.
Margins decorated with border of floreate and foliate ornament inhabited by bird. In lower margin, heraldic shield (azure a chevron or with a bordure of the second) for P³œhls of Basel.