Carrying the Cross from the Coëtivy Hours

Dunois Master, attributed to

Folio with three-quarter page miniature from a book of hours attributed to the Dunois Master, written in Latin and French in a bastarda script, made in Paris and dated 1443–1445. It was commissioned by Prigent de Coëtivy (1399?–1450) on the occasion of his marriage to Marie de Rais (1429–1457). Removed from the bound volume between 1933 and 1960. Following the calendar, Gospel lessons and Passion story are the mixed Hours of the Virgin (8), Holy Cross (7) and Holy Spirit (7). Beneath rubrics in blue, Sext of the Holy Cross opens with the illuminated initial 'D' (Deus in adiutorium meum intende) painted with white, red, blue and gold ivy-leaf ornament. The miniature is painted in demi-grisaille with pigments and gold and depicts Jesus carrying the cross from the city, along the road to Calvary (Golgotha). His importance is emphasised by his relatively monumental size. A man, probably Simon of Cyrene, appears to help carry the weight of the cross. A soldier urges him forward with a halberd. They are followed by Jesus’ mother Mary, St John and other female disciples. A crowd, including a trumpeter playing to mock him, join the procession. In the margins, three soldiers carry the ladder, nails, hammer and pincers for the Crucifixion. The figure carrying the nails is not included on the verso.