Plaque, diptych leaf, ivory, the Annunciation, North Italy (Venice), probably ca. 1390-1410

Leaf of an ivory diptych representing the Annunciation beneath a wide curving arch supported on barely-twist columns. The Virgin is depicted sitting on a throne-like seat, with a cloth hanging behind her. She holds a book in her left hand and gestures in surprise with her right. The Archangel Gabriel kneels to the left and points towards her with his right hand while the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove above. The plaque has a blank frame along all four sides, although the top has been trimmed. The back of the plaque is curved.

Given by Mrs Ellen Hearn, Villa St Louis, Menton in 1923; this and other objects presented at the same time were labelled as the Alfred Williams Hearn gift. Mrs Hearn's notebook records the purchase on an 'ivory tablet, small' in July 2012 (for 950 fr.) which might plausibly be identified as the present relief (Hearn Nominal File, V&A Archive).

This leaf of an ivory diptych representing the Annunciation was made in Venice, Italy, probably in about 1390-1410. Because of the considerable wear on the front of the plaque it might be proposed that it was worn as a pendant, and the hole drilled through it at the apex of the arch supports this interpretation.

CIRC.492-1923