Feast of Dives - c 1518 Book of Hours Leaf

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Original leaf from a printed & 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’’) 

One illuminated three-line, two illuminated two-line and numerous illuminated one-line initials in gold alternating on a red-orange or deep blue ground.

Printed by Gilles Hardouyn & hand-painted in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - brother of the printer & a highly skilled illuminator.  Paris (Use of Rome), c. 1518.

Noted for its DECORATIVE BORDERS - the paneled surrounds are historiated (containing identifiable scenes or figures) or inhabited forms.

The nearly full-page miniature depicts The Feast of Dives. Lazarus is the hero of the parable told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31, of the rich man Dives. Dives & his wife are feasting at a banquet table seated on gold bench carved with satyrs.  His wife points over her shoulder at Lazarus, shown here in unusually fine attire (he is the patron of lepers in the Middle Ages), who has entered the room & is denied food as two dogs are set on him by manservant. The story concludes as Lazarus enjoys the eternal comfort of Abraham’s bosom following his death.  Dives, suffering in hell, requests Abraham send Lazarus to relieve his suffering. Abraham’s responds with a message delivered from on high: “Too Late”.

The three-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 114 (King James 115) complete: “Dilexi…” (I have loved because the Lord will hear the voice of my prayer…).

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11593
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