The Hours of the Cross were typically illustrated with scenes from Christ's Passion. Here, two tormentors push the Crown of Thorns deeper into Christ's head with two sticks. In the late Middle Ages, Passion scenes could be very violent and gruesome in order to incite compassion in the viewer's heart for the suffering Christ. The prayers written below were added by a later, post-medieval scribe. The Mocking of Christ (Crowning of Thorns), beginning Terce of the Hours of the Cross The number '16' is written in upper right corner of recto, indicating that this leaf was once f. 16 of the original manuscript. This image shows the reverse of leaf with an historiated initial from a Book of Hours. The text contains the final prayers of Prime of the Hours of the Cross. Script: Gothic bookhand
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