Ascension from the Coëtivy Hours

Dunois Master, attributed to

Folio with three-quarter page miniature from a book of hours attributed to the Dunois Master, written in Latin and French in a bastarda script, made in Paris and dated 1443–1445. It was commissioned by Prigent de Coëtivy (1399?–1450) on the occasion of his marriage to Marie de Rais (1429–1457). The folio was removed from the bound volume between 1933 and 1960. The fifth article of faith in French concludes on the recto, illuminated in the margins three figures emerging from flowers in prayer and a choir of angels playing viol, harp and psaltery. The sixth article of faith in French opens on the verso with an initial ‘A’ (A douques) painted with white, red, blue and gold ivy-leaf ornament. The miniature is painted in demi-grisaille with pigments and gold and depicts the Ascension of Christ. Jesus’ ascension into heaven, his feet just visible, is witnessed by his mother Mary and the twelve apostles, probably John opposite Mary and possibly Peter behind her. A choir of angels within the painting sign from a music sheet and play lute and pipe.