Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Poitiers, ca. 1475
MS M.1001 fol. 51r

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Miniature:
Magi: Adoration -- Middle-aged magus, crowned, holding vessel, stands beside eldest magus, crown on ground, kneeling with joined hands before Virgin Mary, seated before patterned hanging. She supports Christ Child, nude, standing in her lap, indicating eldest magus with right hand. Joseph the Carpenter, supporting himself with staff, stands beside her. Youngest magus, holding vessel, dismounts from horse.
Virgin Mary, Christ Child, and Joseph have scalloped nimbi.
In top left corner, ox and ass look on. Opposite, soldiers gather to right of Virgin Mary.
Miniature and text framed by historiated border with the following continuous scene:
Magi: meeting -- Within continuous landscape, three magi, mounted, each leading soldiers, meet at crossroads. First magus is lead by figure, possibly herald, holding spear. Two dogs run between first and second magi.