The iconography of this page, which opens the series of prayers addressed to the Trinity, is decidedly complex, with five compartments and an illuminated initial, all full of biblical or theological subjects, and the added complexity of eight floral bands, five stacked on the left, and three inserted on the right. But the short Latin inscription of three lines, Gloria tibi Trinitas equalis una deitas et ante secula et nunc ('Glory be to you, one equal Godhead, from before all centuries and now') placed in the centre, with the capital G of Gloria illuminated and inhabited with the Dove of the Holy Spirit in glory, explains the theme, at once original and enlightening, which links the five scenes: namely the theme of the Trinity as creator, revealed in the Bible reread in the light of the New Testament and traditional Christian theology.
At the top right, in the eternity of God before the world was, is the debate of the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice represented by women with high headdresses) on the occasion of the creation of the world and man. The discussion takes place in the presence, immediately above, of a 'Trinity of the Psalter' (that is God the Father and God the Son sitting side by side, here turned one towards the other, with the Dove between them). Below, on the bottom right, is the creation of Adam by God the Word, with a cruciferous halo, unbearded and of a very youthful Christlike appearance. Next is the creation of Eve alongside Adam, again by God the Word, this time carrying a globe of the world. Adam appears awake and curious to observe what is happening, although stretched his full length on the ground.
On the bottom left is the episode of the Transfiguration of Christ, as told by the three synoptic evangelists (Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9; Luke 9:28-36) presented as a trinitary theophany with the three apostles, Peter, James, and John, as witnesses, grouped on the right of the compartment, while above are the two heavenly witnesses, the horned Moses on the left and Elijah on the right. Christ is standing in the centre with, over him, the crowned God the Father, releasing the Dove of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, above this transfiguration is a double evocation of Pentecost with, within the capital G of the word Gloria, the radiant Dove of the Holy Spirit, and at the top of the folio, in a compartment of markedly large size, the Trinity and the apostles. The twelve apostles are all kneeling, with Saint Peter front left bearing on his shoulder the two keys symbolising his role as head of the apostolic college. Facing him on the right is the apostle Paul bearing a sword. The apostles surround God the Father in majesty, who is being crowned with a triple crown by two of the eight fiery angels gathered around and above him. This triple crown, still named the 'Triregnum', first appeared in Western art around 1300, during the short pontificate of Boniface VIII. Strictly reserved for the Pope, it is the emblem of his triple power. God sits upon a rainbow, clothed in a sumptuous garment, supporting with his outstretched arms the horizontal beam of the cross bearing the crucified Christ with the three nails and copious flowing blood. The Dove of the Holy Spirit forms the link between this Throne of Grace and the Transfiguration.
The iconography of this page, which opens the series of prayers addressed to the Trinity, is decidedly complex, with five compartments and an illuminated initial, all full of biblical or theological subjects, and the added complexity of eight floral bands, five stacked on the left, and three inserted on the right. But the short Latin inscription of three lines, Gloria tibi Trinitas equalis una deitas et ante secula et nunc ('Glory be to you, one equal Godhead, from before all centuries and now') placed in the centre, with the capital G of Gloria illuminated and inhabited with the Dove of the Holy Spirit in glory, explains the theme, at once original and enlightening, which links the five scenes: namely the theme of the Trinity as creator, revealed in the Bible reread in the light of the New Testament and traditional Christian theology.
At the top right, in the eternity of God before the world was, is the debate of the four cardinal virtues (Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice represented by women with high headdresses) on the occasion of the creation of the world and man. The discussion takes place in the presence, immediately above, of a 'Trinity of the Psalter' (that is God the Father and God the Son sitting side by side, here turned one towards the other, with the Dove between them). Below, on the bottom right, is the creation of Adam by God the Word, with a cruciferous halo, unbearded and of a very youthful Christlike appearance. Next is the creation of Eve alongside Adam, again by God the Word, this time carrying a globe of the world. Adam appears awake and curious to observe what is happening, although stretched his full length on the ground.
On the bottom left is the episode of the Transfiguration of Christ, as told by the three synoptic evangelists (Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-9; Luke 9:28-36) presented as a trinitary theophany with the three apostles, Peter, James, and John, as witnesses, grouped on the right of the compartment, while above are the two heavenly witnesses, the horned Moses on the left and Elijah on the right. Christ is standing in the centre with, over him, the crowned God the Father, releasing the Dove of the Holy Spirit.
Finally, above this transfiguration is a double evocation of Pentecost with, within the capital G of the word Gloria, the radiant Dove of the Holy Spirit, and at the top of the folio, in a compartment of markedly large size, the Trinity and the apostles. The twelve apostles are all kneeling, with Saint Peter front left bearing on his shoulder the two keys symbolising his role as head of the apostolic college. Facing him on the right is the apostle Paul bearing a sword. The apostles surround God the Father in majesty, who is being crowned with a triple crown by two of the eight fiery angels gathered around and above him. This triple crown, still named the 'Triregnum', first appeared in Western art around 1300, during the short pontificate of Boniface VIII. Strictly reserved for the Pope, it is the emblem of his triple power. God sits upon a rainbow, clothed in a sumptuous garment, supporting with his outstretched arms the horizontal beam of the cross bearing the crucified Christ with the three nails and copious flowing blood. The Dove of the Holy Spirit forms the link between this Throne of Grace and the Transfiguration.
