Manuscript Illumination with the Birth of the Virgin in an Initial G, from a Gradual 1375

This 14th-century manuscript illumination by the Italian artist Don Silvestro de' Gherarducci depicts the Birth of the Virgin Mary. The scene is framed by an elaborate initial "G" that is decorated with floral motifs. The central figures are those of Saint Anne, the Virgin Mary's mother, and her handmaidens. The image is an excellent example of the detailed and ornate style of illuminated manuscripts produced during the late Middle Ages in Italy. The colors are rich and vibrant, and the figures are rendered with a sense of realism and grace. This illumination likely came from a Gradual, a liturgical book that was used for the Catholic liturgy. This piece is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York.