Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Italy, Florence, ca. 1495
M.305 fol. 17v

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Miniature:
Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Archangel Gabriel, in mandorla of rays, kneels holding lily stalk with left hand, extending right hand toward Virgin Mary, nimbed, sitting on chair, inclining head toward Gabriel, raising right hand, resting left hand on open book on her lap. Rays descend from above toward Mary, through arch inscribed AVE GRATIA PLENA DOMINVS.
Margins:
1) In upper margin medallion enclosing monogram XHS.
2) In left margin, half-figure of prophet, wearing hat, holding scroll with pseudo-inscription, next to fish.
3) In lower margin, quatrefoil enclosing escutcheon with heraldry of Bartolini family (gules a lion rampant per fesse indented sable and argent, for argent and sable) flanked by two cornucopias, surmounted by winged head of putto, mask below escutcheon.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament inhabited by winged putti heads; horned masks; putto supporting on head, vase from which head emerges; camaïeu putto with insect-like body flanked by two fish in right margin;two half-figures of nude men holding cornucopias; two putti flanking quatrefoil in lower margin.