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The Descent from the Cross (Opening of Vespers, Hours of the Cross)
Workshop of: Jacquemart de Hesdin (French, active 1384, died after 1413)
French (Paris)
Medieval (Gothic)
about 1400
Place of Manufacture: Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Tempera and gold on parchment
Dimensions
Overall: 10.2 x 5.8 cm (4 x 2 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
Helen and Alice Colburn Fund
Accession Number43.214
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsBooks and manuscripts – Manuscripts
DescriptionMiniature from Book of Hours depicting a man in a red tunic and blue cap (Nicodemus?) stands on a ladder leaning against the cross, passing the body of Christ to a man in a blue tunic with a red belt and purse (Joseph of Arimathea?) who stands to the left of the cross. Behind him, the Virgin Mary (in blue), Mary Magdalene (in beige), and apostles, all against a diapered background.
Produced in Paris, probably by the atelier of Jacqumart de Hesdin around the year 1400.
Produced in Paris, probably by the atelier of Jacqumart de Hesdin around the year 1400.
ProvenanceUntil 1943, Miss E. M. Ranshaw (d. by 1943), London; February 9, 1943, posthumous Ranshaw sale, Sotheby's, London, lot 106, to Raphael Rosenberg [see note 1]; sold by Raphael Rosenberg to his brother, Saemy Rosenberg, Rosenberg and Stiebel, New York; 1943, sold by Rosenberg and Stiebel to the MFA for $2500 [see note 2]. (Accession Date: October 14, 1943)
NOTES:
[1] Miss Ranshaw had owned a total of sixteen miniatures from the same Book of Hours, which were sold together in 1943. Grete Ring, Arthur Kauffmann, and Raphael Rosenberg bought them, acquiring four leaves each (selling the remaining four leaves to a private collector, F. Springell). The four leaves acquired by Rosenberg are MFA accession numbers 43.212 - 43.515. [2] MFA accession numbers 43.212 - 43.215 were acquired together for this price.
NOTES:
[1] Miss Ranshaw had owned a total of sixteen miniatures from the same Book of Hours, which were sold together in 1943. Grete Ring, Arthur Kauffmann, and Raphael Rosenberg bought them, acquiring four leaves each (selling the remaining four leaves to a private collector, F. Springell). The four leaves acquired by Rosenberg are MFA accession numbers 43.212 - 43.515. [2] MFA accession numbers 43.212 - 43.215 were acquired together for this price.