
Collection Online as of December 11, 2019
(French)
Tempera, and gold on vellum
Sheet: 17.5 x 11.7 cm (6 7/8 x 4 5/8 in.)
Gift from J. H. Wade 1924.426
not on view
The city of Tours in the Loire Valley, then the seat of the French court, was the center of an important
school of illuminators and painters during the latter half of the 15th century. An important artist in this
school was Jean Poyet, whose work was much in demand within court circles. Poyet illustrated several
devotional books for his patroness, Queen Anne of Brittany, and is also known to have worked for the
French king, Charles VIII. This miniature depicting the Pentecost would have introduced the Hours of
the Holy Spirit in a luxury book of hours likely made for an aristocratic patron.