Bamberger Psalter, fol.9v-10r (Montage)

Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. This scene marks the end of the birth of
childhood sequence and the beginning of the Mission Period in this series of miniatures.
An angel, presumably high-ranking because of its multi-colored robes and wings, stands on the opposite bank and assist John in the baptism, mirroring and mimicking his gestures. Jesus stands in the river, fully unclothed. The waters of the Jordan, marked by a green latticed pattern on top of a lighter green background color, cover Christ up to his chest. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descends from the heavens.

This ornately decorated B opens the Vulgate Latin text to Psalm 1 as well as the first group out
of three of the 50 psalms: Beautus vir qui non abiit (“Blessed is the man that walketh not…). Medieval musicians in between tendrils of intertwined Fleuronee (vines). The musician in the top loop of the “B” is King David (from the Old Testament) with his lyre.