The Massacre of the Innocents, an illuminated miniature on vellum from a Book of Hours. S. Netherlands (Bruges), c.

Large rectangular miniature which shows the seated figures of a man and his wife who vainly holds on to her infant while an armed soldier wields his sword, ready to strike the child. Set in an arched medieval room with gold latticed windows, and rectangular doorways. Within a gold and pink bar border and enclosed within a full decorative border of blue and gold acanthus, daisies and other coloured flowers and small gold leaves.

Size of leaf: 184 x 130mm. Size of miniature: 106 x 66mm. Verso blank.

The miniature is painted in the style of William Vrelant, one of the most influential of artists active around Bruges in the mid-15th century, and likely produced for the English market. Although hundreds of manuscripts have been attributed to him, most of these are either from his workshop or by his successors. Followers of his style adopted his well-defined compositional patterns, painted in the most striking colours and delicately modelled figures.

In excellent condition.. 

Stock Code: 246305