Initial D: The Visitation; Initial D: The Lord Enthroned

The Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth embrace tenderly in this image of the Visitation illustrating Lauds in the Hours of the Virgin portion of the manuscript. The figures appear within an elaborate initial D, while another initial Dbelow contains a scene of the Lord enthroned. The two men perched on the marginal extenders of the border decoration seem to be engaged in a game of "chicken" with monkeys on their backs. Although their game has nothing to do with the sacred subject matter of the Visitation, their positions are a playful adaptation of the women's greeting above.