The Hours of Catherine of Cleves (15th Century)

Souls Tormented in Purgatory - "..the place to which the dying man hopes to go. There his soul, like those depicted, will be cleansed of sin in expiating, if painful, fire.

The magnificent Hours of Catherine of Cleves is hosted at the Morgan Library online exhibition, titled "Demons and Devotion: The Hours of Catherine of Cleves."

Catherine of Cleves (1417–1476) married Arnold of Egmond (1410 –1473), becoming duchess of Guelders. Although she bore her husband six children, the marriage was not happy.

War between husband and wife was sparked by Arnold's disinheriting his only living son, Adolf (1438–1477; rumor had it that Adolf accused his father of homosexuality). Catherine's siding with her son in the conflict led to anarchy. The cities of Nijmegen, Zutphen, and Arnhem supported Catherine and her son; Roermond sided with the duke. In 1465 mother and son imprisoned Arnold, forcing him to abdicate. Adolf, as duke, spent six years in ceaseless struggles with his father's supporters.

In 1471 Catherine watched in horror as Arnold secured his freedom and regained his title while Adolf was imprisoned. Arnold died in 1473, disinheriting both wife and son. Catherine's death in 1476 robbed her seeing the release of her son. Adolf's liberty was short-lived; he died the next year.

Ten Thousand Martyrs and St. Acacius

The artist made a playful parallel between Lawrence's method of martyrdom and the way fish are cooked

Tree growing from Adam’s Grave