With the allowance of blue for black, St. Anne
wears the dress of a Benedictine abbess. A dark crimson cloth covers a
table before which the Queen is kneeling, and on which lies open a
finely illuminated Service-book. The Calendar which follows this
portrait is for each month enclosed in a margin of ornament. To the
outer margin of every other page of the book is placed a broad tablet or
pilaster containing flowers, fruits, insects, etc., from five to six
inches high, each having the Latin name of the plant, etc., at top in
red, and the French one in red or blue at the bottom. These names may
have been put in later. It must be admitted that the fruits, flowers,
and insects are painted with the greatest care and neatness, though
sometimes a little assisted by the imagination of the painter. The text
and initials are rather heavy and commonplace. Now and then a border
surrounds the text completely, where flowers or fruits are
scattered--somewhat recklessly at times, but usually with good
design--over a ground of plain gold, on which the branches, etc., cast
heavy shadows. This part of the design is certainly Flemish. Where
"histories" occur the border is a plain brown gilt frame within a black
border. Undoubtedly the "Hours of Anne of Brittany" is a very precious
volume.
Pages:
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258