Christ, dressed in grey mantle, crowns the Virgin; both are enthroned, flanked by angels. Group of undifferentiated male and female saints gather below. All enclosed in initial, beige with gold filler on dark blue background. Marginal ornaments including vines with leaves, droleries (hybrid monk in grey habit balancing saucer on stick) and praying Franciscan Nun (Poor Clares) in margin to left of initial, wearing brown over grey. Single leaf from choir book of type produced for monastiers of Cologne, first half of 15th century.
vellum; painted miniature on vellum
Cologne, Convent of Saint Clare
Portraits of donors or patronesses are often found in the margins of manuscripts produced in or at women's communities. This manuscript was probably one of many codices produced in/for the convent of Saint Clare, founded in Cologne in 1304.
Leaves in Aachen (Suermondt-Museum) and Hanover (Kestner-Museum, cod. 3987), both from single codex.
private collection
Leaf from a Choir Book. For additional information and details of this image see: National">http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pinfo?Object=42527+0+none">National Gallery of Art
Rosenwald Collection, National Gallery of Art,Washington D.C.
Link by permission of the National Gallery of Art
