Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Picture Bible
France, Paris, ca. 1244-1254
MS M.638 fol. 39v

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Zone 1:
David: dancing before Ark, and David: despised by Michal -- Eight men, including two blowing trumpets, attend Ark of Covenant carried on handbarrow by two men from house of Obededom. David, crowned, dances with harp in left hand, looking up at Michal, wearing berbette, pointing at him, in window of building; below six men play fiddle, square tambourine, clappers, bell, pipe, and two trumpets before portal. Two men, kneeling, with knives cut throats of two lambs from which blood flows into two cups (sacrifice). Illustration of II Samuel 6:14-16.
Zone 2:
David: Festival Sacrifice -- Man raises joined hands toward Ark of Covenant flanked by two candles in candlesticks on draped altar under altar-canopy. At right, four men raise joined hands; two kneel. In foreground, man raises axe above ox, and man with knife cuts throat of lamb.
To right, David, crowned, wearing vair-lined mantle, holds fleur-de-lis scepter in left hand, and raises right hand toward group of eight men, one holding loaf and one holding lamb. Illustration of II Samuel 6:17-19.
Scenes with architectural frames.