St. Peter Bestowing the Holy Spirit
Simon Magus Seeks to Buy Peter's Power
Purchased on the Belle da Costa Greene Fund with the assistance of the Fellows, 1963; purchased on the Belle da Costa Greene Fund with the assistance of the Fellows and with special assistance of Mrs. Frederick B. Adams, Sr., Mrs. Robert Charles, Mr. L
This small miniature illustrating the Mass of the Holy Spirit depicts the magician Simon's attempt to buy from St. Peter his power (he had seen the apostle bestowing the Holy Spirit upon people). The rare scene is explicated by texts (derived from Acts 8:19–20) in the top margin. Simon, shoving a moneybag toward the saint, demands, "Give me this grace," to which Peter calmly responds, "You and your money will perish." How the boy shearing a sheep in the bottom border might relate to this scene is a mystery.