Shepherds Purse: manuscript - Morgan MS. 287

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This manuscript is described as a book of "hours for Rome use" (Pierpont Morgan Library, MS. 287, fol. 64v). It is Flemish or northern French, created ca. 1445. This is presumably an annunciation scene (see the angel at the top of the image), but the dancing ring of shepherds seems remarkably oblivious to the event. Seven of the dancers wear Shepherds Purses of the crescent-with-netting style -- all of the men, but only one of the five women.

Woman

Men

References

Wieck, Roger S. 1997. Painted Prayers: The Book of Hours in Medieval and Renaissance Art. George Braziller, Inc., New York. fig. 49