Book of Hours (Use of Rouen): fol. 12r, Calendar Page for December

The rubric, or red text, of the recto (right) page says Secundum Iohanne, or Gospel of John, indicating the gospel lessons’ beginning. The page is enhanced with an image of the four evangelists writing the Gospels. At top left is John, with an eagle, writing while the devil tries to thwart him by stealing his inkwell. Beside this is Matthew, at a traditional desk, an angel kneeling nearby. In the next row are Mark with a lion and Luke with an ox. The preceding page includes the calendar’s end, December, with a cluster of gold days for the Christmas season.