Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, possibly Brittany, ca. 1430
MS M.1040 fol. 1r

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Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Virgin Mary, nimbed and possibly wearing headgear, raising right hand, grasping cloak with left hand, looks back over her left shoulder toward Archangel Gabriel, nimbed, holding with right hand, scroll inscribed AUE GRACIA PLENA DOMINUS TECUM and raising left hand. Virgin Mary is kneeling on cushion before draped altar or prie-dieu, on which is open book, flanked by side curtains, set within small structure with vaulted ceiling, supported by slender colonnettes between windows. At upper right, half figure of God, crossed nimbus, appears in arc of Heaven amid rays, raising right hand in blessing, and holding tripartite globe with left hand. Rays descend from God to Virgin Mary.
Margins decorated with border of foliate ornament and rinceaux.