erikkwakkel:Halloween (1): Blood on the pageBlood streaming down a black page: it is a most unusual
erikkwakkel:Halloween (1): Blood on the pageBlood streaming down a black page: it is a most unusual thing to see in a medieval book - in any book, really. What a shock it must have been for the reader who opened this volume: the bright red drops against the black background leave a powerful impression. As so many things medieval, the scene is profoundly religious. The decoration symbolizes the blood streaming from the wounds of Christ. What is even more remarkable is the reason why the page on the right is faded and worn. As a religious expression, readers through the ages kissed this page - yes, you are reading it right. Each time they did, some black paint - and some blood! - remained on their lips, fading the surface. While a serious deed, it also makes this image oddly fitting for Halloween.Pic: London, British Library, Egerton MS 1821 (late 15th century). More bloody pages from this manuscript here. -- source link
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