Leaf from a Book of Hours: The Annunciation
Unknown Artist
1470s
Medium
ink, tempera, and gold on vellum
Dimensions
17.9 × 12.5 cm
Classification
Manuscript
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection
Accession Number
2014.24
About this artwork
The Annunciation is the traditional introduction to matins, the first of the eight canonical hours. This striking scene recalls the archangel Gabriel's announcement to the Virgin Mary that she was to become the mother of God. The humble scene, steeped in monumentality and innocence, honors one of the most significant moments in Christian history—the coming of God into the world. Flemish artists, in particular, tenderly elaborated this event. The Virgin is usually shown within an architectural in...