The Healing of a Possessed

This illuminated manuscript from The Très Riches Heures illustrates a biblical possession for the third Sunday of Lent. This composition differs from other scenes in The Très Riches Heures because its colors are warmer and deeper, the background is a gold and blue with an ornamental, archaic floral design. This image represents the biblical story, "Jesus and Beezlebub." This story comes from the Gospel of Luke in which Christ drives out a mute demon. The Limbourg brothers represent the scene in a chapel-like structure. In the scene Christ is identified by a halo. He looks at the boy demoniac sternly. The demoniac's body is in convulsions, this is represented by the unnatural position of his limbs. His right leg is limp and covered in deathly gray skin that clings unnaturally to the bone. His arms are splayed outwards at different angles and his mother is holding him up. His hair is shown wild and untamed. There is no mention of a mother or father figure in this biblical story and is thus added by the Limbourg brothers. A small black winged demon is in flight over the boy's head. The demon is given a human body with clawed hands and feet and a short, curled tail. Outside and within the chapel groups of figures wearing oriental robes and headdresses watch in curious amazement. The robed figures maybe the Pharisees or Jewish Priests who also appear in the story. A small child is in the bottom right, hiding behind the robe of the man with his arms up in either adoration or horror.