Manuscript Illumination with the Virgin and Child in an Initial S, from an Antiphonary
mid-15th century
Medium
Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment
Dimensions
Overall: 6 15/16 x 6 1/4 in. (17.6 x 15.8 cm) Illumination: 5 3/8 x 5 in. (13.6 x 12.7 cm) Stave Ht.: 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm) between stave ht.: 1 5/16 in. (3.4 cm) Mat: 19 3/16 x 14 3/16 in. (48.7 x 36.1 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts and Illuminations
Culture
Italian
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.56.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled within the pages of a mid-15th-century Italian antiphonary—a liturgical book used for chanting antiphons during Catholic services—this delicate manuscript illumination features the Virgin Mary tenderly holding the Christ Child within a grand initial "S." Created by the anonymous Master of the Franciscan Breviary an artist renowned for works linked to the Franciscan order, it exemplifies the late Gothic style transitioning toward Renaissance naturalism. The Met's acquisition via the Rogers Fund in 2 highlights its place in preserving medieval treasures. Crafted with tempera paints, ink...