Christoforo Cortese, The Annuciation to the Virgin, large miniature on a cutting from an illuminated manuscript antiphoner, on vellum

a cutting, 156mm by 144mm, large historiated initial 'M' (most probably the opening of "Missus est Gabriel angelus ..." the Responsory for the Feast of the Annunciation), in a coloured leafy design on burnished gold ground (some minor flaking) with penwork in white, enclosing a full-length portrait of the Virgin with a burnished gold halo, seated next to a reading-stand with an open book and a closed book in burnished gold with a white central boss, looking to the right as the angel Gabriel enters behind her carrying a single frond of white foliage, all in an interior scene on powdered-gold ground, on verso: remains of two 4-line red staves with text in a fine late Gothic hand, some areas of burnished gold now flaking and very minor wear, else in good condition, in a large hinged card mount

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The work is clearly recognisable as that of the artist Christoforo Cortese, who was active from c. 1395-c.1445, and who "ranks among Italy's most important illuminators from the first half of the fifteenth century. The first major artist in Venice to paint in the late gothic style, Cortese was an extremely prolific artist who steered the course of Venetian illumination during his lifetime ... the careful attention to facial features ... especially in the eyes and hair, and the fine web of thin white lines overlaid on the foliage, are typical of Cortese's style" (Voekle & Wieck, The Bernard H. Breslauer Collection of Manuscript Illumination, 1992, no. 76, with many references there). The profusion of gold and the dimensions of the present cutting perhaps identify it as from the same manuscript as the Breslauer initial discussed by Voekle and Wieck (subsequently sold in our rooms, 5 July 2005, lot 37) and another sold in our rooms 13 December 1895, lot 96 (and again 20 June 1995, lot 31), which were described in 1895 as "cut from the great Milan Service-Book".