Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, perhaps Paris, ca. 1465
MS M.1027 fol. 46r

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Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Virgin Mary nimbed, reading book held in both hands, kneels knext to a double sided lectern on which is book. Facing her, Archangel Gabriel, kneels on one knee, holding floreate scepter with left hand, raising right hand; scroll next to mouth is inscribed AUE GRACIA PLENA. Above right, God, raising right hand, holding cross surmounted globe with left hand, appears amid rays descending, with dove of Holy Ghost, to Virgin Mary. Canopied bed is in background.
Scene in room with blind tracery on walls and with leaded windows.
Initial D decorated with foliate ornament.
Margins decorated with border of foliate and floreate ornament including fern, columbine and viola. In right margin, scroll inscribed with motto of Benoît Damian, DE SURPLUS; in lower margin, escutcheon decorated with heraldry of Benoît Damian of Blois (gules, a star of 8 points argent, on a chief or a demi eagle rising sable).