Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1420-1425
MS M.1004 fol. 33r

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Virgin Mary: Visitation -- One of two angels, both nimbed, holds bottom of cloak of Virgin Mary; the other holds book. Virgin Mary, nimbed, holds fold of her robe with right hand and extends left to Elizabeth, nimbed and wearing wimpled veil, who touches Mary with right hand and extends her left hand. Behind them are rocky crag and stream with swan. In background, across stream are walled city, and shepherd, sitting amid sheep and bushes, playing instrument, possibly shawm. Beyond city is background of gold filigree on blue.
Margins decorated with border of foliate and floreate ornament including rose. Within border, quatrefoils enclosing floreate ornament.
Added probably after 1451, heraldic shields of France, France impaling Savoy, Savoy, Savoy with label of three points impaling France in barbed quatrefoils in corners of margins.