A Breviary Leaf - c 1475 -Christmas Hymns - elaborate initials

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Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Breviary.  31 lines written in Latin in double columns with dark brown and red ink on animal vellum. (183 x 135mm – 7 3/8 x 5 ¼’’) 

Five two-line illuminated initials alternating in red and white or blue and white, with a floral or geometric interior - all on a burnished gold ground, and four extending into the margin with a delicate rinceaux border in red, blue, green, yellow burnished gold; nine one-line illuminated initials alternating in burnished gold with blue penwork and blue with red penwork.   France, c. 1475.

This leaf contains sermons concerning the Christmas Season. The two-line illuminated “H” begins a fifth century hymn: “Hostis herodes…” (Why, impious Herod, vainly fear that Christ the Savior cometh here? He takes no earthly realms away Who gives the crown that lasts for aye. To greet His birth the Wise Men went, led by the star before them sent; called on by light, towards Light they pressed, and by their gifts their God confessed. In holy Jordan's purest wave the heavenly Lamb vouchsafed to lave; That He, to whom was sin unknown, might cleanse His people from their own…).

The two-line illuminated “A” begins the hymn: “A patre…” (From God the Father, virgin born, To us the only Son came down; Through Baptism, His cross-hallowed gate The faithful to regenerate. ..).

A Breviary is composed of many books (prayers, hymns, psalms...) painstakingly but carefully written by hand, and used by monks and priests to conduct their daily services.  The painted and illuminated manuscript is among the greatest artistic triumphs of the Middle Ages, demonstrating social, intellectual, religious and cultural attitudes of medieval life.

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-12116
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