Presentation of Christ in the Temple (1480, France) by Jean Bourdichon - Public Domain Illuminated Manuscript

This manuscript leaf comes from a Book of Hours illuminated by the French court painter Jean Bourdichon. It depicts the Presentation of Christ in the Temple of Jerusalem, an event celebrated in the liturgical calendar as Candlemas. Forty days after Jesus's birth, the Virgin Mary kneels before an altar and offers the Christ Child to the priest Simeon. Next to her, Joseph holds a large candle; to the right, the prophetess Anna holds the traditional sacrifice of doves. Books of Hours were prayer books used by those in the upper levels of medieval society, both secular and religious. Two other manuscript leaves on this wall were cut from the same book. This one begins with the Latin sentence "Deus in adjutorium meum intende" (O God, come to my aid).