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Ms 1-2005, ff. 235v-236r: Death Striking, historiated initial from the Macclesfield
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Ms 1-2005, ff. 235v-236r: Death Striking, historiated initial from the Macclesfield
FIT270197 Ms 1-2005, ff.235v-236r: Death Striking, historiated initial from the Macclesfield Psalter, Use of Sarum, East Anglia, c.1330 (vellum) by English School, (14th century); 17x6.2 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK; (add.info.: marginal decoration shows a man urinating in a bow and another man falling off his horse; ); eFitzwilliam Museum; English, out of copyright
Media ID 22949652
© Fitzwilliam Museum / Bridgeman Images
Benediction Bleeding Blessing Deathbed East Anglian Grief Grim Reaper Grotesque Margin Marginalia Mourner Refusing Sorrow Tumbling Dying
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This print captures the intricate details of "Ms 1-2005, ff. 235v-236r: Death Striking" a historiated initial from the Macclesfield Psalter. Created by an unknown English artist in the 14th century, this piece is housed at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, UK. Measuring at 17x6.2 cm, this vellum artwork showcases a scene filled with symbolism and emotion. In the margin decoration, we see a man urinating in a bow while another man tumbles off his horse, adding an element of dark humor to the composition. At its center lies Death himself - depicted as a grim reaper wielding a spear - striking down his victim on their deathbed. The mournful female figure beside them represents grief and sorrow, her face etched with anguish. The ornate border surrounding this haunting image features grotesque figures intertwined with foliage and decorative elements that add depth to the overall composition. Amidst this elaborate design stands a skeleton-like figure blessing those present. The use of nudity throughout adds vulnerability and rawness to the scene, emphasizing humanity's inevitable fate before Death's cold embrace. This illuminated manuscript serves as both an artistic masterpiece and historical artifact from medieval East Anglia. Its detailed execution invites viewers into a world where life's fragility is juxtaposed against ornamental beauty – reminding us all of our mortality.
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