Description
Created under King Yohannes (1667–1682) or King Iyyasu I (1682–1706), this manuscript in the First Gonderine style—with bold outlines and a rich palette—includes 32 painted scenes narrating the miracles performed by the Virgin Mary, a series intended to guide weekly devotion. These codified ‘Miracles of Mary’ became one of the most popular themes for religious books after the intensification of Marian worship in the mid-15th century.
Provenance
Ginette Giordana (died 2013), Nimes, France, by mid-1980s [personal communication from Sam Fogg dated Nov. 1, 2001 in curatorial file]; sold to Sam Fogg, Sam Fogg Rare Books and Manuscripts, London, by 1998 [research report in curatorial file; Fogg and Hosking, 2001, no. 19]; sold to the Art Institute, 2002.
Bound Manuscript: The Miracles of Mary (Te'amire Maryam)
Late 17th century
Accession Number
158772
Medium
Parchment, ink, tempera, wood, leather, cotton, and string
Dimensions
Box: 40.1 × 36.9 × 12.7 cm (15 3/4 × 14 1/2 × 5 in.)
Classification
manuscript
Credit Line
Ada Turnbull Hertle and Marian and Samuel Klasstorner endowments
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