Original leaf (170 x 130mm - 6.8 x 5.2") from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 14 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink in gothic textura script on animal vellum.
Northwestern France (Coutances or Bayeux) c 1420.
The miniature depicts the Annunciation to the Shepherds. An angel, with banderol, appears from the heavens to the three astonished shepherds, one of whom holds a red bagpipe. Many of the very small-scale sheep also seem whimsically astonished. A flamboyantly Medieval castle is in the background.surrounded by surrealistic truncated hills and stylized trees.
The miniature painting is set within a fine twining floral baguette in red, blue, green and burnished gold surrounded by a delicate rinceaux border in red, blue, green and burnished gold. One four-line illuminated initial in pink with white penwork on gold ground with internal floral design in blue, red, white & pink.; one five-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on blue & red ground with white penwork extending into the margin in a floral rinceaux design in burnished gold, white, red and blue.
The illuminated "D" opens the Hours of the Virgin - Hour of Terce: "Deus..." (Incline unto my aid, O Lord...).
This charming and unusual leaf was written and illuminated in France at a pivotal point in the Hundred Year’s War - England defeated France decisively in Agincourt in 1415 and took Paris in 1420. Not until Joan of Arc’s heroism (1428-29) could France regain hope of restoring its capital. The book from which this came was likely in daily use at that time. It is from a scarce group of of Books of Hours produced in the area of Countances and Bayeaux in the decade immediately after the Treaty of Troyes (1420), and bears a striking resemblance to the same scene on folio 41 of a Book of Hours, use of Countances, sold at Sothebys, lot 91 22 June 1982.
The top edge is slightly irregular, some minor soiling and rubbed text, with miniature still in excellent condition.
Ex collection Dr. Robert Parsons; formerly Pirages, 1999 Catalog 44 #538 (illlustrated, and described as Flanders or Northern France).
Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat
