Two Marys Discover the Empty Tomb in a Historiated Initial “M” 1475 - 1499

This miniature, “Two Marys Discover the Empty Tomb,” was made by Bonifacio Bembo’s workshop, using tempera and gold leaf on parchment. The use of parchment signals the value placed on this object. Animal skin was carefully treated, stretched, and prepared to create a smooth, receptive surface for painting. Tempera, made from pigment mixed with egg yolk, offers rich, luminous colors, while the application of gold leaf elevates the scene to a divine realm. Notice how the artist skillfully uses these materials to depict textures, like the soft drapery of the angel’s robes, and the hard, cold stone of the tomb. The meticulous production of the manuscript leaf—the grinding and mixing of pigments, the delicate application of gold, the precise brushwork—required immense skill, time, and labor. Works like this were the products of a highly organized workshop. By considering these aspects of making, we can appreciate how this image of the Resurrection is not just a theological statement, but a testament to human ingenuity.