De Profundis 

The Limbourg brothers, sometime between 1410 and 1416, made this illumination with tempera, gold leaf, and ink on parchment. The image exists within the historical context of the late Middle Ages, a time of deep religious faith, feudal social structures, and the dawn of early capitalism. The scene juxtaposes human drama with spiritual supplication, a king kneels in repentance before a chapel while a young couple embraces nearby. Another figure looks on in what appears to be shame or grief. This composition allows us to consider the intertwined nature of personal relationships, social status, and religious devotion. Who are these figures, and what societal pressures might they be experiencing? The emotional intensity of the kneeling king, combined with the romantic embrace of the couple, generates an experiential tension. The miniature invites reflection on the complex interplay of power, desire, and spirituality in the late medieval world.