Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1425-1430
MS M.453 fol. 30v

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Virgin Mary: Espousal -- High priest Zacharias, wearing tall pointed hat, holds with his right hand, right hand of Joseph the Carpenter, raising cap, and holding flowering rod with right hand, and with his left hand Zacharias holds right hand of Virgin Mary, nimbed and crowned. Other suitors, possibly including Jean, duc de Berry, stand behind Joseph, some holding rods; in foreground suitor kneels on right knee, breaking rod against left knee. Behind Zacharias is group of women wearing white headdresses. Scene beneath arch on top of which is parapet and cupola where angels sing and play instruments, including portative organ, harp,and gittern. On facade are niches with statues.
Margins, within circle of foliage (from top left to top right):
1) Joachim: Annunciation -- Joachim, nimbed and wearing soft hat, stands raising right hand, looking toward half figure of angel amid rays.
2) Joachim and Anna: at Golden Gate -- Joachim, wearing soft hat and Anna wearing wimpled veil, both nimbed, embrace in front of golden gate to city.
3) Virgin Mary: Birth -- Anna, nimbed, wearing headdress, is seated on canopied bed, her hands touching swaddled infant reclining on bed. At right maidservant, wearing headdress holds cloth before fire in fireplace with andiron.
4) Virgin Mary: Presentation -- Youthful Virgin Mary, rays as nimbus, stands before steps of temple with Anna, possibly nimbed, and Joachim.
5) Virgin Mary: Life in Temple -- Virgin Mary, possibly nimbed, with joined hands, kneels at draped prie-dieu on which is book, before draped altar on which is retable with Crucifixion scene of crucifix flanked by two figures.
6) Virgin Mary: Life in Temple -- Her back to fire in fireplace, Virgin Mary, nimbed, is seated on bench at loom, holding batten in right hand. At left is table on which is covered pitcher.
7) Virgin Mary, nimbed, flanked by two women.
8) Joseph the Carpenter: Dream I -- Joseph, nimbed, right hand raised, looks toward half figure of angel amid rays.
Margins decorated with border of floreate and foliate ornament, including columbine, strawberry, cornflower, and rose, and inhabited by, angel with peacock wings blowing horn, angel playing shawm (?), goldfinch and parrot.