Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

New Testament illustrations
Germany, probably in or around Strasbourg, ca. 1430
MS M.719 fol. 3v

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Upper half:
Shepherds: Annunciation -- One of two shepherds, indicating star with right hand and holding pedum with left hand, looks toward the other shepherd, wearing hat raising right hand and holding pedum with left hand, looking up toward half figure of angel, nimbed, indicating the star with right hand, emerging from cloud edged arc of Heaven. Three sheep are between the two shepherds; dog wearing collar sits at right.
Lower half:
Magi: Adoration -- Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, holding crutch with right hand, with left hand grasps drapery hung behind Virgin Mary, nimbed, seated. She holds with both hands, standing on her lap, nude Christ Child, crossed nimbus, looking back at her and extending both hands to vessel full of gold coins (?), held by left hand of Magus kneeling, his right hand reaching up to his crown. Of the other two Magi, crowned, one indicates star with raised right hand and holds cover jar with draped left hand, looking back toward the third Magus, holding covered jar with both hands.