Manuscript Illumination with the Assumption of the Virgin in an Initial A, from an Antiphonary

Cosmè Tura (Cosimo di Domenico di Bonaventura)

1450–60 · Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment · Medieval Art

The solemnity of the scene of Jesus' apostles witnessing the miraculous Assumption of the Virgin into heaven is radically transformed by the depiction of a monstrous green dragon whose body forms the opening letter A of the chant. A contract of 1452 indicates that Cosmè Tura was to paint miniatures on a coffret, and it is therefore inferred that he was active both as a painter and as an illuminator of manuscripts. Displayed in this case and an adjacent one are four illuminations attributed to him from the same ensemble of choir books, two from the gradual for the Mass and two from the antiphonary for the Daily Office.

Artist

Cosmè Tura (Cosimo di Domenico di Bonaventura)

Date

1450–60

Medium

Tempera, ink, and gold on parchment

Culture

Italian

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1911