Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Italy, Rome, 1546
M.69, fol. 87r

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Left margin:
Border of foliate ornament in which is bust of man, possibly Lazarus.
Lower margin:
Legend, Dance of Death -- On horseback and on ground, soldiers, armed with lance and/or shields, in battle with, or escaping from, skeletons. One skeleton holding sword, grasps with extended left hand head of soldier astride rearing horse, raising lance with right hand left hand around neck of the horse; skeleton grasps hand of one of two soldiers on rearing horses; skeleton, standing with right foot on fallen horse, aiming spear at soldier on the horse, raising shield with left hand, holding sword with right hand; skeleton raising spear with right hand, grasping hair of soldier astride horse riding next to another soldier, wearing shield on back and holding lance with right hand, astride galloping horse. At far right, man, wearing hood, leaning on crutch stands looking on.
Scene continued from facing page.
Text is from Office of the Dead, Matins