Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1425-1430
MS M.453 fol. 117v

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Christ: Crucifixion -- Beneath rays, Christ, wearing short loincloth, bleeding from wounds, is affixed with three nails to tau cross. He is flanked by two thieves, both wearing short loincloth, both with arms over top of cross arm, one looking up, the other looking down. Below at left, are Holy Woman and Evangelist John, decorated nimbus, supporting swooning Virgin Mary, and Longinus, piercing side of Christ with spear. At right, man, wearing hat, chain mail, raising right arm, holding shield with left hand, looks up toward Christ. Soldiers stand behind him, one holding bannered spear. Scene in landscape with hills and trees, beneath starry sky.
Margins, within circle of foliage (from top to bottom):
1) Christ: Flagellation -- Christ, cross-nimbed, his hands crossed in front of column, is flanked by two torturers, one wearing headgear, the other raising scourge in left hand.
2) Christ: mocked -- Christ, amid rays, blind-folded, is seated on faldstool, and is flanked by two torturers, one possibly spitting, the other, wearing headgear, holding object over head of Christ.
3) Christ: bearing Cross -- Christ, cross nimbed, carries cross on right shoulder and is flanked by two men, one raising hammer in right hand and resting left hand on cross, and the other, wearing headgear, possibly pulling on cross with both hands.
Margins decorated with border of floreate and foliate ornament including columbine, rose and strawberry.