Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Rouen, ca. 1500
MS M.175 fol. 21r

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Miniature:
Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Archangel Gabriel, indicating with right hand, holding scepter with left hand, kneels on one knee before Virgin Mary, nimbed, with joined hands, kneeling in front of throne with canopy inscribed with sun, and next to draped prie-dieu on which is open book. Between them is vase of lilies. Above left, is bust of God, right hand raised in blessing, in rayed arc of Heaven. Dove of Holy Ghost descends on rays from God toward Virgin Mary.
Scene in room with window, decorated wall, and surrounded by frame with colonnettes, foliate capitals. At top of ogee arch of frame, in niche on corbel Adam and Eve flank tree on which is serpent (Adam and Eve: Fall of Man).
Margins:
In lower margin, Tree of Jesse emerges as vine with grapes from chest of Jesse, wearing hat, eyes shut, reclining on ground, his right hand holding the vine, his left hand supporting his head. The vine grows up around the miniature, supporting twelve kings seated on leaves. Each king either wears or holds crown and scepter, excepting David, crowned, playing harp.