Medieval Bible Leaf - ''To every thing there is a Season...''

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A lovely original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible, written in Northern France (probably Paris), c. 1260. In Latin gothic micro-minuscule script, ruled in red and written in brown ink in two columns of 43 lines on animal vellum. (156x103 mm).

Rubricated chapter numbers, THREE multi-lined illuminated Lombard style initials &elegant marginal penwork in red & blue. The calligraphy is excellent, and the vellum is of the finest quality, extremely thin and smooth. The gothic text is written in remarkably tiny & very well formed letters, so small that there are ten lines of text to the inch!

Line two begins text from Ecclesiastes 1:6 – 4:2 ''Gyrat…'' (The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north…To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together…).

Provenance: the parent book was a ''portable'' Bible of the Crusades period, used in the study of theology or preaching of the Gospel around medieval countryside. It was in England by the 17th century; ex collection of Lord Saltoun and later in the famous collection of William Foyle (1885-1963) at Beeligh Abbey.

The bible that contained this leaf was a very high-quality production, illuminated in Paris & similar to the accomplished work associated by Branner with the Dominican Painter (see Robert Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris during the Reign of Saint Louis).

Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.

  • Inventory# IM-6732
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