Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Italy, Lombardy, ca. 1475-1500
M.256 fol. 18v

See more information »

Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Archangel Gabriel, nimbed, wearing fillet (crown), raising right hand, holding stem with lily in left hand, kneels on one knee before Virgin Mary, nimbed, head inclined, with hands crossed on breast, kneeling. Next to her is draped prie-dieu on which is open book; behind her is throne with canopy. Bust of God, crossed nimbus, raising both hands appears in cloud-edged arc of Heaven amid rays. Dove of Holy Ghost, nimbed, hovers amid rays descending from God toward Mary.
Landscape in background with hills, trees, and buildings.
Margins decorated with blocks of floreate ornament on gold ground. In lower margin, escutcheon decorated with arms of king of France (azure three fleur-de-lis or) enclosed in wreath of leaves decorated with fruit and red cords.