Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, probably Brussels, 1533
MS M.491 fol. 167r

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Christ: Flight into Egypt, Fall of Idols -- Virgin Mary, seated sideways on bridled ass, holds Christ Child in draped left arm. Joseph the Carpenter, pointing with right hand toward head of ass, walks beside her, holding staff over shoulder. To right, in background, idol falls from column.
In far background, to left, Innocents: Massacre -- Within landscape, soldiers massacre infants held by women.
Miniature and text framed by architectural border.
Initial D decorated with foliate ornament begins Vespers of the Hours of the Virgin.