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 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; two two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold alternating with a blue interior and on a pink ground and pink interior on a blue ground; twp illuminated one-line initials alternating in red and blue.
An extremely attractive leaf in superb condition with illumination on both sides. 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. Recto has a bar in burnished gold and a bar in pink and blue extending the length of the text ending with a delicate spray at top and bottom in burnished gold, blue, green and pink.
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 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
