MS G.55 fol. 36v

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Hours of Pierre de Bosredont

France, Langres
ca. 1465
157 x 113 mm

Gift of the Trustees of the William S. Glazier Collection, 1984

MS G.55 fol. 36v
Description: 

Virgin Mary: Annunciation — A nimbed Virgin Mary with joined hands kneels at a draped prie-dieu on top of which is a book. She looks back to a nimbed Archangel Gabriel raising his right hand and holding a scroll inscribed AVE GRATIA PLENA DOMINUS TECUM with his left. Above right in a window is a bust of God, with a crossed nimbus, raising His right hand in a blessing and holding a tripartite globe surmounted by a cross with His left hand. He is amid rays, some of which reach the Virgin Mary. Next to her is a pedestal on top of which is a vase of white flowers. In the background is a draped altar below a canopy with a retable that has a relief of an angel standing next to God. In the relief, God has a crossed projecting nimbus. His right hand is raised in a blessing, and He is possibly holding a cross-surmounted globe in His left hand. Behind the altar is tapestry inscribed ECCE ANCILLA DOMINI FIAT MICHI SECUNDUM and AVE GRACIA PLENA DOMINUS TECUM. The scene is set within a windowed room with a wooden ceiling. The miniature is surrounded by an architectural frame of two columns with their capitals supporting an arch.
The margins are decorated with floreate ornament, including a viola and berries, inhabited by a bird. In the left margin, the initials A and P are linked by a love knot. In the lower margin is the heraldic shield of Pierre de Bosredont (quarterly, vair and gules) flanked by two rabbits.