Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, between 1550 and 1558
M.538 fol. 47v

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Virgin Mary: Coronation -- Virgin Mary, veiled, with joined hands, kneels on cloud flanked by Christ, holding bannered cross-staff with left hand. With His right hand he holds, above head of Mary, crown, also held by right hand of God, wearing cross surmounted triple crowned tiara, holding cross surmounted globe, and indicating Mary with right hand. Christ and God sit on rainbow; dove of Holy Ghost hovers amid rays between them.
Miniature within frame decorated with winged head above escutcheon decorated with heraldry of Claude Gouffier (or, three bars gemels sable), surmounted by crown, and surrounded by collar of the order of the Archangel Michael with pendant of Michael transfixing dragon on which he stands (Angel, Archangel Michael: transfixing Dragon); two halberds flanking the escutcheon; foliate ornament; two heads or masks; plaque inscribed with monogram of Gouffier, Phi Chi, flanked by two swords in sheaths with straps, both blue, decorated with gold fleur-de-lis.