The Mass of St. Gregory, from a Book of Hours
1460/70
Medium
Manuscript cutting in tempera and liquid gold on parchment
Dimensions
10.5 × 6.2 cm (4 3/16 × 2 1/2 in.)
Classification
tempera
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
103419
Art Historical Context
This exquisite manuscript cutting, *The Mass of St. Gregory*, created by the Flemish illuminator Willem Vrelant around 1460–70, offers a glimpse into the devotional artistry of late medieval Europe. Vrelant, a prominent Bruges-based master active in the mid-15th century, specialized in luxurious Books of Hours—personal prayer books cherished by the nobility and clergy for daily worship. Cut from such a volume, this tiny panel (just 10.5 × 6.2 cm) captures the legendary miracle of St. Gregory the Great, who during Mass beheld a vision of Christ emerging from the altar, affirming the doctrine of...