Presentation at the Temple 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). Removed from the bound volume between 1933 and 1960. Following the calendar, Gospel lessons and Passion story are the mixed Hours of the Virgin (8), Holy Cross (7) and Holy Spirit (7). Beneath rubrics in red, None of the Virgin opens with the illuminated initial 'D' (Deus in adiutorium meum intende) painted with white, red, blue and gold ivy-leaf ornament. The miniature is painted in demi-grisaille with pigments and gold and depicts the Presentation of the baby Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after his birth. This also marks the completion of Mary's purification after childbirth, and the episodes are often combined. Mary hands the baby to the priest Simeon over an altar, a bewildered Joseph stands on the right, the prophetess Anna on the left. Two attendants hold candles, one also has a bird in a basket. A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons, were presented to the Temple as an offering. A third servant in the right margin holds a candle and basket with the second dove. The margin is also inhabited with a bird above and a pheasant in the lower margin. The attendant is missing her candle and bird on the verso.