Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours on animal vellum. Recto blank. (178 x 128mm – 7 x 5’’)
The miniature is surrounded by a dense floral border with a strawberry (symbol of perfect righteousness), in rich colors and burnished and liquid gold.
Belgium, probably Bruges, c. 1475.
The beautiful miniature painting is similar to works associated with Willem Vrelant, an artist working in Bruges 1454-81. It depicts the haloed Virgin Mary wearing blue robes, her hair falling over her shoulders, and seated while holding the haloed Christ Child. A blue-winged angel wearing pink robes, kneels while offering a plate of cherries which the Christ Child reaches for with both hands. The cherries represent the fruit of heaven typifying the delights of the blessed. In the background is a walled city, hills, mountains and a waterway with boats.
Another leaf from the same manuscript is pictured and described in the Schuster Gallery, 1987 catalog “Illuminated Manuscripts”, number 34.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
