Manuscript Illumination with the Assumption of the Virgin in an Initial G, from a Gradual 1450 - 1460

Cosmè Tura created this manuscript illumination with tempera and gold leaf on parchment, sometime in the 15th century. The page comes from a gradual, a book of chants used in the Catholic Mass. Opening an important liturgical text is an historiated initial ‘G’ depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. We see her rising to heaven while apostles gather around her empty tomb, their faces filled with awe. Tura was working in Ferrara, Italy, a place where powerful families shaped artistic production, seeing art as a means to express their wealth and social standing. Commissioned by a religious institution, this work reinforces orthodox beliefs and social hierarchies; the sacred text is adorned by a scene confirming the power of the church. The use of gold symbolizes divinity, while the meticulous detail reflects the wealth of the patron who paid for it. To truly understand this illumination, we must consider the cultural, social, and religious context in which it was created. By researching the patronage, religious practices, and artistic conventions of fifteenth-century Ferrara, we can gain a deeper understanding of this beautiful work.