Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1425-1430
MS M.453 fol. 83v

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Christ: Flight into Egypt -- Virgin Mary, decorated nimbus, veiled, seated sideways on donkey, holds on her lap, Christ Child, crossed decorated nimbus, swaddled. Joseph the Carpenter, wearing soft hat, holds reins of donkey with right hand and with left hand, draped walking stick over left shoulder. Small purse hangs from his girdle. Scene in land scape with trees, hills and city in background.
Margins, within circle of foliage (from top to bottom):
1) Innocents: Massacre commanded -- Herod the Great, wearing tall hat, right hand raised, is seated on throne. Soldier wearing armor and carrying sword with left hand kneels on one knee before Herod; another man stands behind soldier, hands on breast.
2) Soldier carrying broadaxe with right hand over right shoulder, and a man with sword at right side.
3) Innocents: Massacre -- Woman sits on ground with bleeding nude infant on her lap. Another woman, standing, with both hands, grabs soldier stabbing infant held in left hand with sword held in right hand.
Margins decorated with border of floreate and foliate ornament inhabited by moths, bird, and half figure of bishop, wearing miter, holding book with left hand, emerging from fish.