Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Italy, probably Milan, ca. 1470
MS M.454 fol. 190r

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Christ Child: Bathing -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, is seated raising with both hands, and touching cheeks with nude Christ Child, nimbed. One midwife, nimbed and veiled, stands before them extending hands toward Christ Child; another midwife, wearing headdress, kneels next to basin of water, extending left hand to the water and pouring water from a pitcher held in right hand. Next to Virgin Mary is wattle manger, and behind is wattle shed; heads of ox and ass are visible in door of the shed.
In background, shepherd, wearing hood, sits on ground amid sheep, shielding eyes with left hand and looking up toward gold star (?) emitting rays. (Shepherds: Annunciation).
Scenes in landscape with hills and with city in distance.
Bust of woman in profile amid rays in initial D.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament, including roses, vine scroll, and escutcheons probably of Gabriella Gonzaga and her husband Conrad (Corrado) Fogliani in lower margin (per pale dexter a stem vert springing from a log sinister barry or and sable; one per pale or a stem vert springing from a log, on a canton or two pales gules).