Read on Twitter
In honor of the Feastday of St. Nicholas, let’s take a close look at some scenes from his life as illustrated by Gottschalk of Lambach in the late 12th c., @StaBi_Berlin Theol. Lat. q.140: https://digital.staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/werkansicht?PPN=PPN838355358&PHYSID=PHYS_0007&DMDID=&view=picture-double
This manuscript is a collection of Saint’s Lives and begins (f. 2r) with a visual table of contents: Gottschalk presenting his finished book to the Virgin and Child, with saints around the border. St. Nicholas is in the center right, as Bishop of Myra.
On the verso are four scenes from the Life of St. Nicholas, with original verses as rubrication around the edges.
Nicholas was so holy as a newborn that he could praise God. Here he stands in a small tub with his nurse and his parents, blessed by the hand of God. The verse reads "Qui solidat fragiles/ artus firmat pueriles." (May he who strengthens the weak, strengthen the limbs of children)
Here he saves sailors on the sea. The verses read: Aequora sedantur desperati recreantur/ Salve nos Christe ne nos mundus voret iste” (The seas are calm, desperate to rejuvenate/ Save us, Christ, lest the earth swallow us"). But what does “Vela refert malus m et m m m” mean?!
Nicholas is consecrated Bishop of Myra. The verses read: "Celesti signo/ plebs gaudet presule digno" (With a heavenly sign, the people praise the worthy leader). The image includes a nice detail from text, which says that Nicholas bowed his head to receive the mitre.
Finally, Nicholas saves three wrongfully-accused soldiers from execution. The verses read: Fit spes dampnatis/ iustos facit ex sceleratis" (basically, that there is hope for the condemned).
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
