Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
Belgium, possibly Brussels, ca. 1475
MS M.485 fol. 67v

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Virgin Mary: Annunciation -- Virgin Mary, nimbed, holding book with attached drapery with right hand and turning page with left hand, looks toward Gabriel, cross surmounting head, raising right hand and holding scepter with left hand. Vase containing stem of lilies is between them. Dove of Holy Ghost, nimbed, descends on rays from upper right toward breast of Mary. In background at left is draped bed with canopy. At right is rail, behind which is draped altar on which is object, probably pyx. Retable is decorated with crucifixion, with five (?) figures flanking crucifix, surmounted by shrine enclosing Virgin Mary, crowned, holding scepter (?) with right hand and Christ Child on left arm. Interior of doors of the shrine are decorated with figures.
Scene in vaulted interior with windows.
Margins decorated with border of floreate ornament including rose and strawberry, and inhabited by wildman raising club with both hands in left margin, and lion attacking fallen wild woman in lower margin.