MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - MA246.jpg


Category	Manuscript
Origin: artist/workshop	Nicolas of Bologna and disciples
Date	14C/2
Reference No	MS Vat. lat. 8541, f 88v (detail)
Size	8.4x6.5 (each image excl. border - 4 images on folio 21.5x16.7)
Provenance	Court of Hungary
Present Location	Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica
Bibliography	VP1:2:4 (PL185:229); LA 209-10; Karl 1929, 185-205
	Dal Pra 1990, 351-4; Schmitt 1990, 156
Illustration From	photo - Library
Other illustrations	Karl 1929, ill 2

Country	Italy

Description:
One of eight images of Bernard from a Legendary illustrated by Nicolas of Bologna dated 1330-40 featuring the lives of 51 saints and known as the Hungarian Legendary as it was commissioned by King Charles I of Hungary for the religious instruction of his children. Four are on this folio and four on the facing folio, each image surrounded by floriate decoration. The top left image if of Bernard's vision of the Nativity as a young man. He is incorrectly depicted in a grey cowl as he was not yet a monk when he had the vision. Below the kneeling figure of Bernard are Mary and a bearded Joseph. The cross-nimbed Child lies in a crib in front of Bernard while a donkey and a cow look into the crib. God appears from a cloud blessing Bernard. The inscription above in red ink reads: 'I. Bernardus. Quomodo Christus manifestavit illi horam nativitais sue' (Bernard. How Christ showed him the hour of his birth). See also MA247-53.

Description:

One of eight images of Bernard from a Legendary illustrated by Nicolas of Bologna dated 1330-40 featuring the lives of 51 saints and known as the Hungarian Legendary as it was commissioned by King Charles I of Hungary for the religious instruction of his children. Four are on this folio and four on the facing folio, each image surrounded by floriate decoration. The top left image if of Bernard's vision of the Nativity as a young man. He is incorrectly depicted in a grey cowl as he was not yet a monk when he had the vision. Below the kneeling figure of Bernard are Mary and a bearded Joseph. The cross-nimbed Child lies in a crib in front of Bernard while a donkey and a cow look into the crib. God appears from a cloud blessing Bernard. The inscription above in red ink reads: 'I. Bernardus. Quomodo Christus manifestavit illi horam nativitais sue' (Bernard. How Christ showed him the hour of his birth). See also MA247-53.