A miniature on vellum from a manuscript Book of Hours.

Wonderful arch-topped miniature of the Annunciation from a Book of Hours : the angel Gabriel and the Virgin in a Medieval house. Mary is standing behind a lectern and according to the common belief of the Middle Ages, she is reading from a Book of Hours!!! In the picture we see a banner with the text spoken by the angel : Ave gratia plena, dominus tecum. [ Hail, highly favoured, the Lord is with thee! ] In the margin on the right is a banner with the same text. Around the miniature are acanthus leaves [ also in grey!] flowers, a snail, a half human figure, an angel with wings and two birds. The whole painting is rubbed, but the high quality of the work is still visible! The Book of Hours is probably from Rouen in France and made around 1450.

Reference: CL26