Flight into Egypt

Dunois Master and his workshop, France, Paris, c. 1460

With its masterful composition, this single leaf from a French Book of Hours is among the high-end works of the Dunois Master and his workshop.

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Miniature. Tempera and gold on vellum.

Leaf: 193 x 145 mm.

109

of 257

Unique depiction of the Flight to Egypt

Overview

On their escape to Egypt, the Holy Family rides and walks in flight from Herod’s henchmen. At the lower margin, a craggy cliff’s edge represents this journey's danger. Mary and Jesus sit on the donkey’s back, the child swaddled in bands of cloth. Mother and child tenderly join their foreheads together, an adorable and sweet gesture. Joseph leads the ass by a rope to the right. He represents the most colourful spot, dressed in a tan cap that matches his trousers, a red cloak over a grey dress, and a blue hood. He carries a gnarled stick with a white cloth over his shoulder. In the background, a wide landscape includes a mighty spired city with pointed roofs, enlivening the arrangement. The composition does not comprise a text field with the incipit, which is rather unusual for French Books of Hours.

The surrounding border is colourfully adorned with substantial acanthus leaves in various tones, forming wide loops. The acanthus is interspersed with tiny dots in gold leaf and floral tendrils. On the outer margin, a grotesque figure, half-man, half-unidentifiable animal, swings a club.

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