Simon Liboron (attrib.)
St. Privatus

15th century
Illustration in the Croÿ Hours, fol. 126
Bibliothèque de l'Assemblée Nationale, Paris

The Croÿ Hours takes St. Privatus to be a "confessor" – a saint who is not a martyr. A prayer on the other side of the folio shown here says, Quesumus omnipotens deus ut beati privati confessoris tui atque pontificis venerandi solemnitas et devotionem nobis augeat et salutem, "Almighty God, we pray that this solemnity of blessed Privatus your confessor and venerable bishop may increase our devotion and hope of salvation."

Consistently with the "confessor" appellation the illustration has nothing to refer to the martyrdom detailed in written works from the 6th to the 20th centuries. He is simply shown as a sainted bishop, with halo, mitre, and crozier. The book in his hand is a quite generic symbol of Christian erudition. Indeed, unless the tower and cloister wall in the background happen to reflect those at Mende there is nothing in the image itself to identify the figure as Privatus.

Read more about images of St. Privatus.

Source: The Croÿ Hours, Bibliothèque de l'Assemblée Nationale