3-081-193 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Deposition - One of four Illuminated pages from a Book of Hours, c1430-1450. An illuminated page showing the Deposition from a section in a Dutch Book of Hours known as 'The Hours of the Cross'. A Book of Hours was intended for lay people and was filled with hymns, prayers and images for them to meditate on. 'The Hours of the Cross' depicts the story of the passion of Christ. This scene is set within an arched window with an elaborately decorated border around the outside. Two men take Christ down from the cross, while Mary kneels below. She is wearing blue, which symbolises heaven and is comforted by St. John. The action appears to be set in a contemporary landscape, with a castle in the background. The artist has rendered the small details of objects and expressions with great care. The border contains foliage, fruit and peacocks, which were symbols of immortality and the resurrection.