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The Annunciation
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The scene of the Annunciation to Mary that she will give birth to Christ is depicted here as a contemporary scene that may have been familiar to any viewer at the end of the 1400s. Mary is portrayed as an ordinary but wealthy woman who is interrupted by the Archangel Gabriel as she reads a book of hours. This type of book was enormously popular in the late Middle Ages as a prayer and devotional book, particularly among the wealthy, literate nobility, and city aristocracy.
| Artist / Maker | Albert Bouts |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1480 |
| Culture / Origin | Netherlands, Leuven, 15th century |
| Medium | oil on wood |
| Dimensions | Framed: 75.2 x 69 x 8.5 cm (29 5/8 x 27 3/16 x 3 3/8 in.); Unframed: 50.2 x 41.5 cm (19 3/4 x 16 5/16 in.) |
| Department | Medieval Art |
| Type | Painting |
About the Artist
Albert Bouts (Netherlandish, 1451/55–1549) Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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