Book of Hours Leaf - Medieval Dutch c 1460 Elaborate Border

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Original leaf from a medieval Book of Hours.  19 lines of ruled text, written in medieval Dutch with dark brown ink in fine Gothic script, on animal vellum. (170 x 120mm – 6 5/8 x 4 ¾’’) 

 One illuminated five-line initial & two illuminated two-line initials in burnished gold alternating with an interior of blue or pink with a blue or pink ground.  Recto has an illuminated bar the length of the text in burnished gold, pink and blue ending with a delicate spray of flowers at top & bottom in green, blue, red & burnished gold; Verso has a three-quarter burnished gold bar along the text and an intricate border in a floral design in blue, green, red, pink and both liquid and burnished gold.                               

Netherlands, c. 1460.

The five-line illuminated “G” begins “ God wilt…” (Incline unto my aid O God.  O Lord make haste to help me.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…).

The one-line illuminated “C” begins the popular medieval prayer Come Holy Spirit Creator Blest: “Com, scepper, ghiest vande dijnre…” (Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up Thy rest; come with Thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which Thou hast made. O comforter, to Thee we cry, O heavenly gift of God Most High, O fount of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above…).

The Dutch (Low Countries) were the first to break the tradition of using Latin in Prayer Books and Books of Hours.  In England, France and Italy, Latin continued to be the primary liturgical language throughout the 1400’s.

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11539
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