Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Rouen, ca. 1470
MS M.167 fol. 61v

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Shepherds: Annunciation -- Golden angel, flying in heaven, with both hands holding scroll, looks down at three shepherds, one hooded, standing with left hand raised, one kneeling with bowl catching water from fountain in rocks, and one, hooded, seated on ground with bagpipe, all amid flock of thirteen sheep and dog.
Scene in landscape setting with rocks, stream, trees, lake, and castle in distance, all within arched gold frame.
In left margin, bird pierces breast with beak. In lower margin (bas-de-page), two hybrid animals face one another. Left hybrid has body of bird, long neck, and fantastic head. Right hybrid has head and neck of fantastic bird and body with four legs.
Margins decorated with foliate border of acanthus leaves, flowers, and strawberries.