Late 15th Century Gouache Illuminated Manuscript "Gregory Mass"

Item Details

Other
Unsigned

A hand-painted miniature illuminated parchment leaf from a late 15th century French Book of Hours. The work depicts an illustration of the ‘Gregory Mass’ in which Pope Gregory was visited by a vision of Christ rising behind the altar. The miniature illumination is surrounded by acanthus leaves and floral motifs with illustrations of monkeys playing instruments in the lower margin. Beginning beneath the image and continuing onto the page opposite there is Latin text with decorative drop caps. A wide variety of gouache and inks are used including gold, brown, blue, green, red, and yellow. The page is held in off-white mat with double-sided windows and a descriptive insert detailing the inscriptions, wrapped in protective plastic.

Condition

- to Fair; some wear to the protective cellophane sleeve; some wear to the edges of the mat; to the verso, some staining to the surface of the item.

Dimensions

- measurements of mat; measurements of visible image 3.5" W x 5" H.

Item #

18WDC045-402