Annunciation to the Shepherds from BL Stowe 24, f. 54v

Miniature of the Annunciation to the Shepherds, and full foliate borders, at the beginning of Terce in the Hours of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 54v of Book of Hours, Use of Rome. Written in Latin, calendar and rubrics in French.

The Annunciation is a biblical event in which the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary to announce that she had been chosen to give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. The event is recorded in the New Testament in the Gospels of Luke and is a central moment in the story of the Nativity of Jesus. The scene typically depicts Mary and Gabriel, who is usually shown holding a lily, a symbol of purity, and announcing the news of the birth of Jesus to Mary.