Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 24 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in an elegant angular gothic book-hand script on animal vellum; rubrics in red. (178 x 125mm – 7 x 5’’)
Three two-line illuminated initials, fifteen one-line illuminated initials and eleven illuminated line-extenders in gold on red or blue ground.
France: Rouen, (Use of Rouen) c. 1470-90.
Unusual vibrant and elaborate panel borders on recto and verso in colorful floral and geometric motif in red, green, blue and white on gold ground.
The one-line illuminated “L” begins Psalm 149: 3-9: “Laudent…” (Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery. For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation…”
The two-line illuminated “L” begins Psalm 150 complete: “Laudate…” (Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power. Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness…).
The two-line illuminated “V” begins Canticle of Canticles (King James Song of Solomon) 6:8: “Viderunt…” (The daughters saw her, and declared her most blessed: the queens and concubines, and they praised her).
The two-line illuminated “O” begins the hymn: “O Gloriosa domina…” (O heaven’s glorious mistress, enthroned above the starry sky! thou feedest with thy sacred breast thy own Creator, Lord most high. What man had lost in hapless Eve, thy sacred womb to man restores, thou to the wretched here beneath hast opened Heaven's eternal doors. Hail, O refulgent Hall of light! Hail Gate august of Heaven's high King! through thee redeemed to endless life, thy praise let all the nations sing. To the Father and the Spirit and to thy Son all glory be, who with a wondrous garment of graces encircled thee. Amen).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
