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. (178 x 125mm – 7 x 5’’)
One two-line illuminated initial, thirty-four one-line illuminated initials and twenty-five 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 (including strawberries – symbol of perfect righteousness) in red, green, blue and white on gold ground.
The two-line illuminated “K” begins the Litany of the Saints (first prescribed by Pope Gregory in 590 for a public thanksgiving following a plague that ravaged Rome): “Kyrie…” (Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Christ hear us. God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us…). Names of saints are listed with each invocation followed by the abbreviation for “ora pro nobis” (Pray for us). Among the saints listed are: Sts. Michael (patron of battles), Peter (patron of fishermen), Andrew (patron of fisherman), John (patron of theologians), Thomas (patron of architects), and Stephen (patron of deacons).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
