Virgin and Child in a Decorative Frame

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Virgin and Child in a Decorative Frame

Artist(Miniature of Virgin and Child) Master of the David Scenes in the Grimani Breviary (Flemish, 1490-1520)

Artist(Decorative border) Attavante Attavanti (Italian, 1452-before 1525)

DatePossibly assembled 19th century

Dimensionssheet: 12 1/8 x 9 in. (30.8 x 22.9 cm)

MediumTempera and burnished gold on vellum

ClassificationManuscripts

Credit LineFrederick B. and Kate L. Shoemaker Fund

Object number

1939.501

Not on View

Label TextThis exceptional miniature scholars believe to be a collaboration between the Florentine artist Attavante, who painted the ornate architectural alter, landscape, and border, and an unknown Flemish master, who painted the Madonna and child. The elaborate marble alter is a tour-de- force of illusionistic carving and jewel-like ornamentation. Beyond one sees a vast panoramic landscape. In the decorative border, at the bottom, two putti hold aloft a coat of arms though to belong to the Medici family. The precise identity of the manuscript to which this sheet once belonged is not known. This piece presents further puzzles because the right border is on a separate strip of vellum, and the motifs and style of its decoration are slightly different from its companion sheet on the left.Published ReferencesSpitzer Collection, Catalogue, vol. V, 1892, p. 149, no. 4 (as Italian, late 15th century.).

TOLEDO MUSEUM NEWS, No. 129, October 1951, repr. on cover.

Godwin, Molly Ohl, "Capolavori Italiani al 'Toledo Museum of Art'," LE VIE DEL MONDO, Vol. 14, No.11, November 1952, p. 1150, repr. p.1144.

Hindman, Sandra, Medieval & Renaissance Miniature Painting, Akron, Ohio, Bruce Ferrini Rare Books, 1988, p. xii.

Hindman, Sandra, Nina Rowe, eds., Manuscript Illumination in the Modern Age, , Evanston, Illinois, Mary & Leigh Block Gallery, 2001, repr. (col.) pl. 3.

Exhibition HistoryNew York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Berkley, University Art Gallery, University of California, Pages from Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts, 1963, No. 55, 30, repr. pl. XLIX. Evanston, IL, Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, Manuscript Illumination in the modern age: recovery and reconstruction, 2001, p. 66, 69, 97, fig. 26, pl. 3 (col.).