
ca. 1515
Da Costa hours
Illuminated by Simon Bening (1483/84–1561)
Ghent, Belgium
172 x 125 mm
MS M.399, fol. 157v
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), 1910
Catalog link
Shepherds: Annunciation—An angel appearing amid an aureole gestures toward three shepherds below who are tending a flock of sheep. Two shepherds fall back or react, raising their hands to cover their faces. A third shepherd is seated on the ground, eyes closed.
In the border around the miniature is a landscape inhabited by a rabbit and a deer. Buildings are visible in the background.