Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
France, Paris, ca. 1420-1425
MS M.1004 fol. 54r

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Christ: Flight into Egypt -- Virgin Mary, nimbed and veiled is seated on drape, sideways on bridled ass, holding Christ Child, cross-nimbed, and swaddled. Joseph the Carpenter, wearing hat, and with purse at waist, leads ass, holding reins in right hand. With his left hand he holds draped staff over left shoulder. Behind him is man, wearing hat, carrying sack (?). In background are rocky outcrops with trees, and horseman; city is in distance.
The miniature is the traditional illustration for Vespers of the Hours of the Virgin. It contains a particularly striking example of the luminous skies for which the artist is notable.
Margins decorated with border of foliate and floreate ornament, including strawberry and rose. Within border barbed quatrefoils, enclosing owl, hybrid animal with head of dog and winged body, dragon, bird.
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.