Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Netherlands, ca. 1494
MS M.1078 fol. 23v

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Innocents: Massacre -- Woman, wearing turban-like headdress, holding swaddled infant, fallen to ground, turns to look toward helmeted soldier, holding raised sword in left hand. Behind him is second helmeted soldier, holding sword in right hand and bleeding nude infant by the arm in his left hand. Herod the Great, crowned, holding scepter, seated on throne, witnesses scene.
Margins with vinescroll in lozenge pattern, inhabited by bird. Vignette in lower margin:
Christ: Flight into Egypt -- Herod the Great, wearing crown, holding scepter, sits astride horse. Another horseman is beside him. Before him stands man, holding shield in right hand and scythe in left hand, before field of grain. To right, Virgin Mary, veiled, with rays as nimbus, seated on ass, holds in her arms swaddled infant Christ Child, with crossed rayed nimbus. Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, holding staff, is beside the ass. Scene in landscape.