The birth of the Virgin Mary, the midwife hands the baby Mary (in swaddling clothes) to her mother Anne. Coloured pen drawing after a painting by B. Vivarini, 1473.

1 drawing : pen and ink, with watercolour wash

Barto Vivarini. The birth of the Virgin. Santa Formosa. Drawn with great care from life. The child stares out swaddled in the bandages, (w... are seen (even how hung out to dry) with chequered border pattern. The scarlet bed cover, the tub of the period. The semi circular shutters to the window of bottle glass.

On reverse is a drawing of Sa. Maria Formosa after B. Vivarini.

Wellcome Collection 17313i