A Geek's Adventures

jothelibrarian:

Pretty medieval manuscript of the day is one last image from the Hours of Catherine of Cleves. I love the margins in this book. This one, of mussel shells and an angry looking crab, symbolises the miraculous sermons of Archbishop Ambrose (at the centre of the illustration). According to the Morgan Library:

Archbishop Ambrose wears a miter and holds a book and crozier. He was famous for preaching sermons that could reconcile the bitterest of enemies, and in the border, natural enemies—mussels and the crab, which likes to feast on mussels’ flesh—cohabit in harmony. Bishop Augustine also wears a miter and holds a crozier. He holds his attribute, a heart pierced by two arrows, a sign of his remorse over the sins of dissipation he committed in his youth. Larger pierced hearts, suspended on chains held by demons and angels, form the border.

Source: Morgan Library

Image source: Hours of Catherine of Cleves, Image declared as public domain on Wikipedia because its copyright has expired.

I’ve seen this (and other) Book of Hours at the Morgan. They’re beautiful.