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’’) A rare and attractive leaf in exceptionally nice condition !
One illuminated five-line initial in burnished gold with an interior floral design in pink, orange green and gold on a blue ground and all resting on a pink ground with delicate white penwork; one two-line illuminated initial in burnished gold with a pink interior and on a blue ground; fourteen illuminated one-line initials alternating in red and blue. 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 “D” begins Psalm 92 (King James 93) 1-2: “Die heer…” (The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: the Lord is clothed with strength, and hath girded himself. For he hath established the world which shall not be moved…).
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
