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Annunciation
From the Corvey Gospels
Lower Saxony, Germany, Late 10th century
Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenüttel: Cod. Guelf 16.1 Aug. 2°
This book allots six full pages to ink drawings showing scenes from the Nativity and youth of Christ. They appear to be by several artists, but the finest examples, including this image, were done by an artist whose works appear elsewhere in the region of Corvey. He frequently leaves the drawn figures silhouetted against a fully painted background, and it is possible that this book was intended to be completed in similar fashion. In the sixteenth century many of the pages in this book were painted over to varying degrees, but the six drawings were left untouched, testimony to their enduring appeal as examples of accomplished draftsmanship.