God Surrounded by the Symbols of the Evangelists
ca. 1440
The Netherlands, Utrecht
MS M.917/945, ff. 118v–119r
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. Laurens M. Hamilton, The Heineman Foundation, Mrs. Donald F. Hyde, Mrs. Jacob M. Kaplan
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The hymn in Sext of the Hours of All Saints quotes the evangelists, who mystically recognized God. Hence the miniature shows an enthroned God surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists—their mystical representation. Clockwise from the upper left are the eagle of John, the lion of Mark, the ox of Luke, and the angel of Matthew. The scrolls give the saints' names.