Initial A[ngelus Domini descendit] from an Antiphonary: The Three Marys at the Tomb (c. 1280–1300): Art, History and Details

Initial A[ngelus Domini descendit] from an Antiphonary: The Three Marys at the Tomb (c. 1280–1300) is in the Cleveland Museum of Art collection.

The work and its context

The museum's open-access catalogue describes the work:

This large initial A introduces the matins (about 2:30 a.m.) response for Easter: Angelus Domini descendit de celo (An angel of the Lord descended from heaven). The letter that begins the text is commonly and appropriately decorated with a depiction of this Easter morning event. The three holy women known as "the three Marys" (Mary Magdalene; Mary, the mother of James; and Salome) are shown approaching Jesus's tomb with jars of spice to anoint the body. They are met by an angel in dazzling white robes who announces that Christ has risen. The angel's wand tipped with a fleur-de-lys indicates that he is Gabriel. Below are the sleeping soldiers sent by Pilate to guard the tomb.

Object facts

• Title: Initial A[ngelus Domini descendit] from an Antiphonary: The Three Marys at the Tomb
• Date: c. 1280–1300
• Culture: Italy, Siena
• Type: Manuscript
• Technique: ink, tempera, and gold on parchment
• Dimensions: Sheet: 18 x 15.8 cm (7 1/16 x 6 1/4 in.)
• Collection: MED - Manuscript Illuminations
• Department: Medieval Art
• Accession number: 1952.232

Collection credit

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund

View the collection record

See the museum's photographs and full catalogue entry. Catalogue text is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art's open-access data, with HTML formatting removed. This object and its supplied image are designated CC0.