Leaf for the feast of the Annunciation from a Missal, Umbria, ca. 1320-1330.

Leaf from a Missal that introduces the Mass for the feast of the Annunciation, probably made in Umbria in ca. mid-late 14th century. Double-sided. Text written in black ink wih red rubrics (a title, chapter heading, or instruction that is not strictly part of the text but helps to identify it). Colour pigments, gold leaf, and ink.

Two columns of text (Southern Gothic Textualis) are separated by slender acanthus leaves and delicate foliate (floral or leaf) shapes painted in colour pigments and burnished gold leaf (gold paint that has been polished to shine). Foliate marginalia (writing or decoration in the margins of a manuscript) runs along the top of the leaf, down through the middle, and extends into the bas-de-page (bottom of the page).

Recto: One historiated initial 'D' shows Archangel Gabriel, wearing a red tunic, appearing to the Virgin Mary in a blue tunic who stands reading at a small lectern. The scene is set against a diaper-patterned (a repetitive geometric pattern) background. Both figures have burnished gold leaf halos.

Blue initial 'S' with red penwork (fine linear embellishment); red initial 'P' with blue penwork.

Verso: Two text columns in black ink with red rubrics. Red initial 'I' with blue penwork; blue initial 'G' with red penwork that extends into the bas-de-page.

The Archangel Gabriel addressing the Virgin Mary during the Annuciation

Part of a group of 'illuminations' bought from Spithower in Rome on 18 December 1860 (now Museum nos 1487-1537).
Cuttings from the same manuscript in the V&A collection: Museum nos 1489, 1490, 1491, 1492, 1493, 1494, 1495.

This leaf (cutting) is for the feast of the Annunciation (25 March; the announcement to the Virgin that she will bear the Son of God), and is from a mid-late 14th century Italian Missal (a service book containg the texts necessary for the performance of the Mass togther with ceremonial directions). The historiated initial 'D' (a letter containing an identifiable scene of figures, sometimes relating to the text) shows the Archangel Gabriel appearing to the Virgin Mary.

1490