Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Picture Bible
France, Paris, ca. 1244-1254
MS M.638 fol. 40r

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Zone 1:
1) David: instructed by Nathan -- Three men stand behind David, crowned, wearing vair-lined mantle, holding fleur-de-lis scepter in left hand and pointing with right hand. He sits with legs crossed on animal faldstool, with feet on footstool, before Nathan, head draped, raising right hand. Christ-Logos, cross-nimbed, emerges from cloud. Illustration of II Samuel 7:17.
2) David: communicating with God -- Man, possibly Nathan, with hands joined, stands behind David, crowned, kneeling with hands joined, looking up at Hand of God emerging from clouds. Ark of Covenant on draped altar is flanked by two candles in candlesticks beneath canopy. Illustration of II Samuel 7:18-29.
Zone 2:
David: Battle against Hadadezer -- David, crowned, in mail, rides on caparisoned horse. With heraldic shield (azure, a lion rampant or) in left hand and with sword in right hand, he pursues Hadadezer, crowned, in mail, with shield, mounted, raising wounded arm. Soldiers, some with visors, all in mail, are mounted, including one on caparisoned horse. All engage in combat with bannered lances, swords and axe; some are fallen. Two of four soldiers use pickaxes; three scale walls of city of Damascus (?); one mounts on ladder. Illustration of II Samuel 8:3.
Scenes with architectural frames.