Original leaf from a printed & beautifully hand-illuminated Book of Hours. Twenty-eight lines of ruled Latin text, printed in red & black on animal vellum. (178 x 115mm – 7 x 4 ½’’)
Initials illuminated by hand in gold, on grounds of blue or sepia with delicate gold penwork. The paneled surrounds are historiated or inhabited.
Printed by Gilles Hardouyn & hand-painted with rich sumptuous colors in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - brother of the printer & a highly skilled illuminator. Paris (Use of Rome), c. 1518.
The full page illumination depicts the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary.
The Angel Gabriel wearing a white robe with green wings descends into the room where the Virgin Mary, wearing robes in deep blue turns with hands raised from prie-dieu on which a book is propped. Two windows in back & canopy bed in colors of red, green silver & gold. The Angel Gabriel points back over his shoulder at the radiant Dove with his right hand while carrying a scepter in his left hand. Floor is tiled in marbled green, red and pink.
The Three-line illuminated “D” begins: “Domine…” (Thou O Lord wilt open my lips. And my mouth shall declare thy praise…).
The two-line illuminated “V” begins Psalm 94 (King James 95) 1-10: “Venite…” (Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our Savior. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms…).
Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat
