Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, Bruges, ca. 1520
MS M.307 fol. 8v

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Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Archangel Gabriel, nimbed and crowned, holding scepter with right hand, raising left hand, kneeling behind Virgin Mary, looks toward her, nimbed, orant, next to bench surmounted by small crouching figures at each corner, on which are pillows. She kneels at prie-dieu, surmounted by pillow on which open book with clasps rests on hem of garment. Dove of Holy Ghost hovers above in mandorla amid rays that descend to Virgin Mary, some to her abdomen.
Scene in room with beamed wooden ceiling and doorway in background, and containing draped canopied bed, cat, fireplace behind the bench; basket in which is fabric and bobbin (?) and drawstring cloth bag on floor to left of Virgin Mary.
Margins decorated with border of flowers and plants including dianthus, columbine, red currants (?), rose and viola, and inhabited by fly, peacock and snail.