Original leaf from a medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. There are15 lines of red ruled text on both sides of the leaf written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink. (Size 184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8 inches)
The leaf is embellished with a two-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders on each side of the leaf contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, & burnished gold.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
This leaf continues the section of Suffrages - prayers to saints who were considered the protectors, helpers and guardians of medieval people. The text continues the Suffrages of Saint Nicholas (Patron Saint of children): “Deus qui…” (O God, who adorned the blessed Nicholas thy priest with innumerable miracles, grant to us, we beseech, that by his favors and prayers we be freed from the fires of hell…).
The rubrics announce the Suffrages of St. Claudius “O desolatorum…” (O consoler of the desolate, freer of captives, resurrection to the dead, light to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, teacher of sailors, healer of the weak and faint, a refuge of the healing art, a road for those who go astray, and deliverance of all who hope in thee…).
Angers was the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during the reign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, were engaged in the War of the Roses.
An atractive leaf in nice condition, with bright colors and gold. Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
