Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Italy, Florence, between 1490 and 1499
MS M.14 fol. 220v

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Pentecost -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, veiled, seated with joined hands raised, is flanked by twelve nimbed apostles, seated on benches, some gesturing. Above them, tongues of flame descend from dove of Holy Ghost. Scene in room with scalloped niches and groin vault.
In margins are gems amid foliate ornament. In left margin in framed vignette is nimbed apostle (?), with right hand on breast. Above and below are cherubs. In upper margin is quatrefoil inscribed MARIA. In right margin in vignette is nimbed apostle (?). Above and below are cherubs. In lower margin in nimbed apostle (?), pointing upward with right hand. The vignette is flanked and held by two cherubs.