The Entombment 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). Compline of the Holy Cross opens with the illuminated initial 'C' (Converte nos deus salutaris noster) painted with white, red, blue and gold ivy-leaf ornament. The miniature is painted in demi-grisaille with pigments and gold and depicts the Entombment of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus lower his body into a sarcophagus while the Virgin Mary kisses his hand. John the Evangelist and three female disciples are also in attendance. Other officials watch from behind and through an open arcade with a view of Jerusalem across the river. The three Marys grieve in the lower margin, with a fourth female follower in the corner. The fourth figure is absent from the verso.