Book of Hours, in Latin with additions in Middle English. Southern Netherlands (possibly Bruges), fifteenth century. Reed MS10
The two somewhat indifferent looking figures at centre are souls being borne to Heaven by two angels. The arms folded across their chests identify the figures as deceased, since it was a common mediaeval practice to fold the arms of a corpse in this fashion for burial. Above them awaits God, depicted emerging from the sky with his right hand raised in blessing.
The miniature precedes the Commendation of the Souls, a set of prayers for or by the dying that ask for deliverance. The prayers are said in the manner of a series of biblical figures, such as ‘Deliver, Lord, his soul, just as you delivered Noah from the deluge’ or ‘Deliver, Lord, his soul, just as you delivered Job from his sufferings’, and so on.
Book of Hours, in Latin with additions in Middle English. Southern Netherlands (possibly Bruges), fifteenth century. Reed MS10
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