The J. Paul Getty Museum

Stripped naked, mocked by his wife, whipped by devils, and confronted with the destruction of his worldly goods by fire, Job still sits patiently on a dungheap, trusting in the will of God. Satan had challenged God to see whether Job, a devout man blessed with wealth, good health, and a loving family, would remain faithful after a series of trials. After killing Job's livestock and servants, sending a plague of boils to cover him from head to foot, and having a house fall on all his children, Satan was convinced that Job would curse God, just as his wife urges him to do in the illumination. Job refuses and responds that, just as God has the power to give good things, God may also give evil. Christians saw Job's patience as a parallel to the endurance of Christ during his Passion, including the Flagellation scene on the facing page.