Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, perhaps Bruges or Valenciennes, ca. 1470
MS M.285 fol. 265v

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Group of five nimbed female saints, including Catherine of Alexandria, crowned, holding sword in right hand and open book in left hand; saint, wearing headdress, holding martyr's palm (?) in right hand; Margaret of Antioch, with joined hands raised, emerging from back of dragon; saint, possibly Genevieve of Paris, wearing fillet, holding candle (?) in right hand; and saint, possibly Barbara of Nicomedia, holding open book in right hand and martyr's palm in left hand, possibly with tower behind her. Buildings in background.
Margins with foliate and vinescroll ornament. In lower margin is man, wearing wreath around his head, holding halberd in right hand and wearing on strap shield (escutcheon) with arms of Sivry (barry of twelve argent and azure an estoile or).