Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Diurnal of Isabelle de Bourbon
France, Amiens, ca. 1455
MS M.221 fol. 168r

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Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- In cloudy arc of Heaven, bust of God, nimbus as rays, from mouth emits rays in which descends dove of Holy Ghost toward Virgin Mary, nimbus with rays, kneeling under canopy, beside vase with two lilies, and before draped prie-dieu, on which is open book with pseudo-inscriptions. She places her left hand on the book, raising her right hand, and looking back over shoulder toward partly kneeling Archangel Gabriel, raising left forefinger and with right hand holding scroll inscribed AVE MARIA PLENA DOMINUS TECUM, a variant from Luke 01:28. Scene in room with patterned background and tiled floor. Margin, lower: Angel, wearing hat, extending hands to stem amid foliate ornament. Margins decorated with foliate and floreate ornament, including daisies and strawberry. Text is from Antiphon for Lauds for Feast of Virgin Mary, Annunciation (03.25).