Original leaf from an unusually large medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 18 lines of ruled gothic textura script, written in Latin with dark brown ink, on animal vellum.(260 x 184mm – 10 ¼ x 7 ¼’’)
One illuminated two-line initial in blue on a burnished gold ground with a floral interior in blue, mauve and orange and extending the length of the text with a burnished gold bar; 13 illuminated one-line initials and ten line-extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate blue penwork. Exceptional three-quarter rinceaux border with an intricate floral motif in blue, mauve, red, green, and burnished gold!!
Northern France: Paris, c. 1440
The illuminated “B” begins the Canticle of Zachary – Luke 1:68-79: "Benedictus dominus...." (Blessed be the Lord God of Israel because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people: And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant: As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning: Salvation from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us: To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament, The oath which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us…And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways: To give knowledge of salvation to his people unto the remission of their sins…).
Presented in an archival 16 x 12'' mat
