The Annunciation to the Shepherds and Mary Magdalene at the tomb of Christ, historiated initials on colossal leaves from illuminated antiphoners, on vellum [Italy or Spain, second quarter of the sixteenth century] 2 leaves (most probably from two volumes in the same series): (a) very large initial 'D' (opening "Dominus dixit ad me ...", the antiphon of the first nocturn of Matins on Christmas Day), in classical design of leaves on scarlet grounds with grey-white acanthus sprays overlaid, all within a dull-gold frame, on a leaf 855mm. by 575mm., enclosing the Annunciation to the Shepherds as a night scene lit only by celestial light, with a hooded shepherd with his flock and camp in a woodland clearing, shielding his eyes as the angel descends; (b) very large miniature (before "Maria magdalene et altera ..." the responsory for Easter Monday), a central oval enclosing SS. John and Peter approaching the open tomb of Christ as an angel gestures towards it, on a rectangular ground of elaborate grey and blue acanthus-leaf sprays on bright red grounds within a pink frame, on a leaf 863mm. by 590mm.; both with 5 lines of text with music on 5-line red staves, both excellent condition
The Annunciation to the Shepherds and Mary Magdalene at the tomb of Christ, historiated initials on colossal leaves from illuminated antiphoners, on vellum [Italy or Spain, second quarter of the sixteenth century] 2 leaves (most probably from two volumes in the same series): (a) very large initial 'D' (opening "Dominus dixit ad me ...", the antiphon of the first nocturn of Matins on Christmas Day), in classical design of leaves on scarlet grounds with grey-white acanthus sprays overlaid, all within a dull-gold frame, on a leaf 855mm. by 575mm., enclosing the Annunciation to the Shepherds as a night scene lit only by celestial light, with a hooded shepherd with his flock and camp in a woodland clearing, shielding his eyes as the angel descends; (b) very large miniature (before "Maria magdalene et altera ..." the responsory for Easter Monday), a central oval enclosing SS. John and Peter approaching the open tomb of Christ as an angel gestures towards it, on a rectangular ground of elaborate grey and blue acanthus-leaf sprays on bright red grounds within a pink frame, on a leaf 863mm. by 590mm.; both with 5 lines of text with music on 5-line red staves, both excellent condition
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
