Crucifixion from BL Add 21412, ff. 81-94*, ff. 90a and b

A montage (now dismembered) of a full-page miniature of the Crucifixion with the Virgin fainting below, a historiated border of cartouches and medallions containing scenes and figures in gold monochrome: the Agony in the Garden, the Betrayal, Christ before Caiaphas and the Flagellation, prophets and sibyls, and the inscription ‘Christus factus est / pro nobis obediens / usque ad montem [sic; mortem] / mortem autem crucis’ divided among the four corners, and four plaques inscribed ‘Pius / IIII / Pont / Max', measuring 335 x 240 mm (f. 90a); and a strip of border, measuring 50 x 240 mm (f. 90b). The miniatures is signed ‘APF’ below the left foot of the figure holding the ladder. On the reverse of the miniature is one four-line red stave, musical notation and text of the Sanctus from the Palm Sunday procession liturgy '[fi] ne dicentes. Sanctus, / Sanctus, Sanctus do / minus deus sabaoth. / Pleni sunt c[a]eli et terra / gloria tua Osan[n]a in ex / celsis. Benedictus qui / venit in nomine domini / Osanna in excelsis. / Verte.'. Image taken from ff. 90a and b of Cuttings from service books of Pius IV. Written in Latin.

The Agony in the Garden refers to the event in the life of Jesus Christ when he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before his arrest and crucifixion. According to the New Testament, he was overwhelmed with sorrow and asked God to take the cup of suffering from him, yet he ultimately submitted to God's will, saying "Not my will, but yours be done." This event is considered one of the defining moments in the Passion of Jesus.